(Eagle News) — The Philippines is still on the “white list” of the International Maritime Organization.
This was the clarification issued by the Maritime Industry Authority, following a media report the country could be excluded for failure to comply with global reporting standards.
Inclusion in the “white list” means that a country complies with the minimum qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships, based on the revised 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of the IMO.
“The incontrovertible proof of this compliance is the MSC Circular published on 14 December 2018, which categorically includes the Philippines in the list of STCW-compliant parties,” Marina said.
According to Marina, they continue to “exert maximum efforts to maintain its status of compliance with IMO standards.”
In fact, they said they would be attending the sixth session of the IMO’s sub-committee on Human Element and Training from April 29 to May 3 in London, the United Kingdom, as part of the Philippine delegation to “bolster our position in the white list.”
“The DOTr-Marina bears paramount pride in the world-class qualities of our maritime workforce, and will do its utmost to secure the viability of livelihood of our seafarers,” Marina said.