Seeing the big picture

THE Philippine maritime industry has never been as divided as it is now on one particular issue: the implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of

Seafarers or STCW.

Before the turn of the millennium, the disagreement about the convention was on the question of which agency should act as the “administration” as stipulated in the convention. There was protracted discussion on that issue until Republic Act 10635 enacted in 2014 finally resolved it in favor of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) as the “single maritime administration” in the implementation of the STCW Convention.

Before 2014, it was the Department of Labor and Employment which was in charge supposing that the convention was a labor convention.

Marina insisted it was a maritime safety convention and therefore must be implemented by the maritime agency responsible for carrying out the flag State commitments of the Philippines.

The optimism resulting from the enactment of RA 10635, however, was soon wiped off as the implementing rules and regulations of the law were disputed by stakeholders especially as it encroached on the core functions of other agencies. Nonetheless, the positive expectation that things will become better remains with the designation of a single administration.

Then, what is wrong? This is a question now frequently being asked. Why do the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) grievances persist? Talks of digging into the root cause(s) of the problem were suggested; whether that was undertaken needs to be articulated so that stakeholders can come together and help address the root cause. It is not enough to focus on the grievances as identified with the corresponding action steps placed side-by-side.

Strategic plans to address not only the EMSA grievances per se must be developed and adopted. And this should start with knowing the perspective from which the government decided to ratify the STCW convention. Of course, the deployment of Filipino seafarers is one primary reason for the Philippines’ signing of the convention. But it should not be all that concerns the STCW implementation. Was the Philippines guided by the principles and purposes for which the convention was adopted? If not, then is the government willing to take a paradigm shift in its perspective?

As it is, the most urgent issue which needs to be addressed is to get the European Union to favorably consider the Philippine response and corrective actions, even as these are now under scrutiny by the European community. Based on the conversations on this matter it appears that it is just wait-and-see for the Philippines; in the meantime, stakeholders, especially the seafarers, anxiously await government plans in whatever direction the EU decision may go.

There is much optimism on the part of the government, a viewpoint many stakeholders share. But what are the next steps? Wait until the next EMSA audit? Or wait for that adverse EMSA decision?

This is a call to the single maritime administration! What is the plan?