Emsa official: EU recognizes PH maritime education certification system

A HIGH-ranking official from the European Maritime Safety Agency (Emsa) said they have extended the recognition of the maritime education, training, and certification system for seafarers in the Philippines.

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines, Ambassador Luc Véron said in an interview with SunStar Davao on May 18, 2023, during his school visit to DMMA College of Southern Philippines (DCSP) that Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and Commission on Higher Education (Ched) were able to comply the necessary requirements to be certified after the discrepancies raised by Emsa.

Emsa is an agency that provides technical expertise and operational assistance to improve maritime safety, pollution preparedness and response, and maritime security in European flag vessels.

“Nothing has changed, and this is for the better for Filipino Seafarers,” Véron said.

Véron said that it is important that maritime schools in the country should continue implementing the international convention on standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers’ requirements in their maritime programs.

This has been one of the recent concerns of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) which they are resolving as it will affect the 50,000 seafarers who are deployed in EUflagged ships.

In 2021, the initial audit report from the European Maritime Safety Agency (Emsa) indicated that there are 15 to 17 deficiencies, mostly found in the higher maritime education program.

Following the decision of the Emsa, ChedDavao said the certification acquired from Emsa will greatly impact the status of Filipino seafarers who are under the EU-flag vessels.

“Sa tagal tagal ng pagpunta nila dito sa atin, ilang beses din sila nag check, finally, they at least, kahit papano nakita nila na compliant naman ang Pilipinas (They have been constantly checking our maritime education here in the country and finally after several attempts they gave us now a clearance and we are already compliant),” Dr. Cesar Adegue, Ched Education Supervisor said in an interview with SunStar Davao on May 22, 2023.

Adegue said the Philippines have been long recognized by the Emsa, however, was not certified due to the discrepancies found during the agency’s visit.

“Maraming mga question, kaya noon, di kinoconsider as officer ang ating mga ano [seafarers], of course they can be considered as employee ng barko, pero hindi as an officer. Ngayon na accepted na ng Emsa, okay na talaga kahit papano (They have raised a lot of concerns before and they would not even consider our seafarers as an officer and now that we have this clearance they will now be considered as one),” he added.

Adegue said Marina and Ched have joined forces to improve the quality of education in the maritime industry. /