Maritime
MARINA:
Sole Agency Tasked
To Save The Jobs
Finally the sole government
agency tasked to save the jobs
of more than 430,000 Filipino
seafarers’ job particularly the
83,000 employed in European
shipping vessels has taken the
bull by its horns! The Philippines
is ready to meet the audit team
of the European Maritime
Safety Agency (EMSA)when
they return this October, 2014.
The Philippines is the number
one supplier of seafarers in the
world, and we intend to stay
on top. This was
disclosed by Dr.
Maximo Mejia
Jr., Administrator
of the Maritime
Industry Authority
(MARINA).
Dr. Maximo Mejia Jr.,
Administrator of the
Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA).
10
W
e have taken all the necessary steps
to fulfill EMSA’s requirements upon
their return this October. It will be
recalled that in EMSA’s April audit
of 2013, some fundamental flaws
were found in the country’s maritime
training and certification system. We acknowledge the
fact that these issues should have been addressed long
before but it’s only now during this administration
that the Agency truly focused on this crucial matter.
The Philippines must maintain its position of good
standing among the European Union ship ownersemployers. We hope to maintain the Philippines in
the white list and for the continued recognition of the
Philippines’ STCW certificate of competencies (COCs).”
Mejia said.
“We wish to erase that cloud of doubt and prove
to the world that Philippine issued certificates of
competencies (COP) are in full compliance with
the strict standards of
EMSA and in adherence
with the Standards of
Training , Certification and
Watchkeeping (STCW) for
Seafarers as defined during
the 1978 STCW International
Convention,’’ Mejia declared.
The Marina Administrator
revealed drastic measures
were taken even to the
point of rocking the boat of
complacency in some affected
maritime stakeholders of the
country. Issues of conflict of
interest were also addressed.
An example is when an
owner of a maritime training
institution has direct links to
the certifying and monitoring