Filipino seafarers in difficulty because maritime education by PH does not fulfill the standards, warns the EU
On Tuesday, the European Union (EU) advised the Philippines about the “urgent problem” that Filipino sailors face as an offshoot of the country’s marine schools ‘ inability to satisfy global norms.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. produced this disclosure soon after his meeting at the DFA office in Pasay City with the EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen.”He (Jessen) is a true friend of the Philippines. He advised me of Filipino mariners ‘ urgent problem on board superior and generous EU shipping based on receiving a decent rating from our maritime colleges. Can’t give him enough thanks for his concern and assistance. I’m going to kick the ass to save their employment, Locsin said in a tweet.The EU voiced a comparable concern to the Philippines in March, stating that it may not be prepared to do so in what Locsin described as the “final judgement” or the next round of audit to be performed by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in January 2020. They appreciate our sailors. Especially Norwegians, “Locsin said. It has been revealed that Philippine maritime colleges have failed the audit undertaken by EMSA since 2006. Among other things, the Philippines has allegedly been told to revise their Maritime Education and Training (MET) scheme in order to comply with the International Convention on Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Standards or the STCW.
The STCW establishes the qualification requirements for seafaring officers on all seagoing merchant ships. Industry insiders proposed that maritime training schools should be converted from their current “qualification-based to competency-based” scheme in order to comply. The Philippines is one of the largest providers to European shipping organizations of seafarers or sailors.
