unification of maritime agency
UNIFYING THE MARITIME AGENCIES: THE IMPORTANCE OF MARINA AS THE FOREMOST AUTHORITY ON MARITIME ISSUES
The Filipino shipboard personnel have been a major contributor to the Philippine economy through its foreign exchange earnings in the amount of more than $3 Billion annually. Yet historically, when it comes to welfare support and training implementation, the government has been lacking in these aspects. Consequently, since the maritime field has been upgrading its laws and improving its training and safety standards year after year, the country has started to lag in comparison with the bar set by the international community. This current paper serves to document the action the government has taken to be at par with the other seafarer-supplying nations. This paper also discusses the role of the different administrations and international organizations in the unification of MARINA and the measures the state has taken to neutralize the downgrading of the Filipino seafarers.
In the year 2006, the education and training system of the Philippines underwent an audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) wherein the organization found deficiencies warranting a threat that they would include the country in a white list of nationalities not qualified to man European vessels. This set-off various events leading up to the 2010 Manila Convention of the STCW.
Several issues were raised during the Manila Convention of 2010 that plagued the maritime industry both here locally and abroad. The Philippines, as one of the founding members of the IMO, has been having its own share of dilemma, some of which have been generally critical to the function of the industry as a whole.
Filipinos own an estimated 25% share in the central citizenship of the crew on-board Merchant vessels (POEA Survey, 2011). This means that Filipinos are most affected by the changes in STCW. Ever since the historic sinking of the ‘TITANIC’, a multitude of safety measures has been regulated
The Filipino shipboard personnel have been a major contributor to the Philippine economy through its foreign exchange earnings in the amount of more than $3 Billion annually. Yet historically, when it comes to welfare support and training implementation, the government has been lacking in these aspects. Consequently, since the maritime field has been upgrading its laws and improving its training and safety standards year after year, the country has started to lag in comparison with the bar set by the international community. This current paper serves to document the action the government has taken to be at par with the other seafarer-supplying nations. This paper also discusses the role of the different administrations and international organizations in the unification of MARINA and the measures the state has taken to neutralize the downgrading of the Filipino seafarers.
In the year 2006, the education and training system of the Philippines underwent an audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) wherein the organization found deficiencies warranting a threat that they would include the country in a white list of nationalities not qualified to man European vessels. This set-off various events leading up to the 2010 Manila Convention of the STCW.
Several issues were raised during the Manila Convention of 2010 that plagued the maritime industry both here locally and abroad. The Philippines, as one of the founding members of the IMO, has been having its own share of dilemma, some of which have been generally critical to the function of the industry as a whole.
Filipinos own an estimated 25% share in the central citizenship of the crew on-board Merchant vessels (POEA Survey, 2011). This means that Filipinos are most affected by the changes in STCW. Ever since the historic sinking of the ‘TITANIC’, a multitude of safety measures has been regulated
Cited: Amante-Capatoy, L. B. (2012). P-Noy abolishes MTC, appoints MARINA as Single Maritime Administration. Maritime Review, 5. Aquino III, B. (2012, September 1). Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved from Government of the Republic of the Philippines Web site: http://www.gov.ph/2012/04/30/executive-order-no-75-s-2012/ Calimoso, E. (2012, July). P-Noy signs MLC 2006. 7-8. European Maritime Safety Agency. (2012, August 22). European Maritime Safety Agency. Retrieved from European Maritime Safety Agency: www.emsa.com Global and Philippine Maritime Trends. (2012, September 1). Retrieved from Marine-Cafe: http://marine-cafe.com/mcblog/?page_id=3948 Marina to lead STCW Code implementation. (2011). Harbor Scope, 1&5. Phl faces tons of work towards STCW Code compliance. (2012). Harbor Scope, 1&3.