Atty. Brenda V. Pimentel: Who wants to be a seafarer?

Who wants to be a seafarer?
Atty. Brenda V. Pimentel May 10, 2023 https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/05/10/business/maritime/who-wants-to-be...

IF young people in the age bracket of 8 to 15 years were asked this question, chances are 8 out of 10 would want to be a seafarer, a desire especially evident for those who have relatives or neighbors who are seafarers.

At such a young age, they are clueless about the complications that lie heavy in getting a merchant marine career.

Then there are the parents who believe that the rewards of a seafaring career are worth the cost and sacrifice that go with sending their children to school for a maritime diploma.

Not only once did people hear of the anecdote of a mother coaching his son "Mahina naman utak mo, mag-seaman ka na lang (You are a dimwit anyway, so just be a seafarer)," which is an affront to all seafarers who are considered essential workers and in this archipelago part of the "Bagong Bayani" (New Hero).

Those who aspire to become seafarers with their hopeful parents belong to those who envisage a bright future, one that will bring them prosperity or for some probably lift them out of poverty.

The merchant marine students together with their parents hitched their dream of a seafaring career and yet they do not figure out in the efforts to unravel the mystery that continuously haunts this archipelago's maritime education and training framework.

The campaign of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to encourage the youth to go to sea resonates across the globe and the Philippines has earnestly responded to this call.

Other stakeholders in the business of seafaring which include those who are in maritime education and training, manning agencies, shipowners (both in domestic and international trading), and of course government have been very aggressive in preparing and planning for the training, education, certification, and placement of the hopeful maritime students and seafarers.

The promise of seeing the world on top of the attractive remuneration package and allowances proves to be an effective pitch to get senior high school completers to enroll in either the BSMarine Transportation or BSMarine Engineering programs. After completing the 3-year classroom lectures and requirements, the long wait for a cadetship berth follows — which for some never comes. And that is when the painful reality unfolds — that onboard training (OBT) is not easy to come by.

The merchant marine students together with their parents hitched their dream of a seafaring career and yet they do not figure out in the efforts to unravel the mystery that continuously haunts this archipelago's maritime education and training framework.

The campaign of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to encourage the youth to go to sea resonates across the globe and the Philippines has earnestly responded to this call.

Other stakeholders in the business of seafaring which include those who are in maritime education and training, manning agencies, shipowners (both in domestic and international trading), and of course government have been very aggressive in preparing and planning for the training, education, certification, and placement of the hopeful maritime students and seafarers.

The promise of seeing the world on top of the attractive remuneration package and allowances proves to be an effective pitch to get senior high school completers to enroll in either the BSMarine Transportation or BSMarine Engineering programs. After completing the 3-year classroom lectures and requirements, the long wait for a cadetship berth follows — which for some never comes. And that is when the painful reality unfolds — that onboard training (OBT) is not easy to come by.

The issue of onboard training is but one concern and stakeholders, especially the government, must work even more intently on ensuring there is sustained recognition by the international shipping community of the Filipino seafarers' qualifications reckoned from the requirements of the International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

The European Union's grant of reprieve over the recognition of Filipino seafarer certificates notwithstanding, the government has to exercise utmost diligence in addressing the outstanding gaps and gray areas in the implementation of the convention. This is not limited to the EU action, but rather as a continuing obligation of the Philippines as a Party to the STCW Convention.

The fact remains that seafaring is a preferred career among the youth; whether they are aware of the issues surrounding the OBT is unclear.

What is reassuring is that stakeholders from the maritime education sector and the manning agencies are holding dialogues to identify ways to resolve the issue. Getting the whole set of stakeholders to study and consider the proposal to remove the OBT from the curriculum of BSMT and BSMarE should be given priority attention.

The proposal to legislate the requirement for all maritime higher education institutions (MHEIs) in a perfect world is attainable; but where only two or three MHEIs have training ships, it will mean closing down the 70 other MHEIs.

So for those who wish to be seafarers (and parents) take notice!!