Marina chief vows to avert ban on Pinoy seafarers

The newly appointed administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has vowed to avert the possible ban on Filipino seafarers manning European Union (EU)-registered vessels.

Administrator Maximo Mejia Jr. brushed off concerns that his appointment five months before the Philippines undergoes the second stage audit of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) would have adverse consequences for more than 80,000 Filipino seafarers aboard EU-registered vessels.

Mejia was a classmate of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.

He spent 15 years teaching graduate studies at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malm, Sweden.

Mejia said he is familiar with EMSA as an organization and its people due to his long stint teaching at WMU.

Knowing EMSA, his appointment will not cause any problem with auditors who will return this October, he added.

Mejia said the European Commission (EC) and the EMSA are aware of his credentials and his solid background in international maritime policy.

“I’m here to help strengthen our case,” he said.

Mejia said the coming October audit will focus on the Commission on Higher Education and the Professional Regulation Commission.

“I am working with my team and that means Nic Conti and the others,” he said.

The United Filipino Seafarers (UFS), an organization of Filipino seafarers and ship officers with a membership of 43,000, had called for the government to provide all-out support to Marina to prepare for the second-stage audit, and avoid implementing changes at the agency that will distract or disrupt the preparations.

Headed by Nelson Ramirez, the UFS has urged the government to retain and make then Marina officer-in-charge, deputy administrator for administration Nicasio Conti, permanent to show continuity in reforms in the maritime and seafaring industry.

In a letter to President Aquino last May 10, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) secretary-general Peter Hinchliffe expressed concern over reported “organizational changes” at the Marina.

“At the conclusion of part 1 of the recent EMSA audit, it appears that the findings indicate that while Marina has made progress, there remain unresolved issues at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), with regard to their complete alignment with the provisions of EO (Executive Order) 75 and their subsequent adoption of global provisions contained in the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW),” the ICS said.

“This raises doubt on the ability of the Philippines to fully satisfy the second part of the EMSA audit expected in October of this year.”

ICS, citing expediency, urged the Office of the President to ensure complete alignment with Marina as the central maritime administration so desired results would be achieved.

“We have also heard that some organizational changes in Marina may be under consideration. We again respectfully urge that the government of the Philippines should maintain a steady path working through Marina and its current team,” it said.

Another UFS concern is a possible domino effect if the EC pushes through with the ban on Filipino seafarers.

– Rainier Allan Ronda, Jose Rodel Clapano