Reprieve from total ban for Filipino officers on EU vessels

THE European Union (EU) has voted not to ban Filipino officers outright from EU-registered ships. This is despite two unsuccessful STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) compliance audits by the European Maritime Safety Authority (EMSA) last year.

A report by the independent oil tanker association, Intertanko, said that during a recent meeting of the Committee on the Safety of the Sea (COSS), EU members endorsed the recommendation from the European Commission (EC) not to derecognise Filipino seafarer certificates of competency. Instead, the Philippines has been given more time to address all deficiencies uncovered by the EMSA audits.

Based on the EU timetable, the Philippines will have to provide by end-July proof that all outstanding deficiencies have been resolved and that all requirements of the STCW convention have been fully implemented. The Philippine report will then be verified by an EMSA audit team which w…