Maritime
Unexpected exit of
STCW top man
T
his could be a shocker among maritime
industry professionals who have been
hailing ongoing developments aimed
at improving the proficiency and
competence of our seafarers on a
global level.
A shocker that makes people come
and think why this happened, with
several issues entangled that could take forever to
be resolved. In reality, such issues can be done at in a
nick of time.
And this was a shocker because that figure being
much talked about in the industry circle was the very
one initiating reforms in the institution to streamline
and cleanse the agency under his helm of corrupt
practices—amidst the ‘Kumpare’ system that has long
prevailed in the industry which has truly hampered
total change aimed at professionalizing maritime
practitioners.
The person many who were talking about was no less
than SCTW Office Executive Director Capt. Ely Diaz.
It is very puzzling indeed to hear of Diaz’s unexpected
resignation and if many people are asked on why he
resigned, chances are they will each give different
answers. For Diaz’s part, there was that need to go
16
Former MARIANA-SCTW Office
Executive Director Capt. Ely Diaz
back to the US due to personal matters involving
his family. And two, his return to the US has also
prompted him to attend the maritime consultancy
company that he himself started, Ace Marine USA.
But amidst the very strong whys, it is so unfair to
conclude that not much has been done under the
helm of Capt. Diaz during his tenure of less than one
year.
For one, he was able to issue updated certificates to
hundreds of electro-technical officers (ETOs) before the
December 31, 2016 deadline for the full and mandatory
enforcement of the Manila amendments—of which over