MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is working round-the-clock addressing non-conformities and observations in the recently conducted first stage of the Independent Evaluation (IE) by a panel of international experts that assessed the Philippine implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training and Certification (STCW) for seafarers 1978, as amended while rallying maritime industry stakeholders for support in order to ensure the continued inclusion of the Philippines in the so called IMO White List.

The Philippines engaged the services of highly technical experts to undertake this independent evaluation. As a State Party to the STCW Convention for seafarers 1978 as amended, the Philippines is required to undertake the Independent Evaluation process as the first step towards IMO White Listing. The IE has to be undertaken periodically every five (5) years.

The first stage of the IE was carried out from 30 March to 10 April 2022. Visits were conducted on the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), three (3) Maritime Higher Educational Institutions (MHEIs), two (2) Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs), and two (2) Assessment Centers nationwide.

The evolving list of IMO Member States found to have given full and complete effect currently includes the Philippines. Hence, it is crucial to show our continued compliance with the STCW Convention and Code for the employment of our Filipino seafarers onboard ships in the international trade.

𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧

To ensure inclusion of the Philippines in the IMO White List, the MARINA calls on the support of partner agencies and maritime industry players in addressing the IE findings as some corrective actions may require policy shifts.
It is then to the best interest of the country if the Philippines as a Member of the Council Category “C” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and home to hundreds of thousands of maritime professionals to fully and effectively demonstrate its compliance with the Convention.

𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐌𝐎 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧-𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞.
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𝐈͟𝐦͟𝐩͟𝐨͟𝐫͟𝐭͟𝐚͟𝐧͟𝐭͟ ͟𝐃͟𝐞͟𝐭͟𝐚͟𝐢͟𝐥͟𝐬͟ ͟

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭
In accordance with Convention, the Philippines shall ensure that an independent evaluation of the knowledge, understanding, skills and competence acquisition, assessment activities and the administration of the certification system is conducted at intervals of not more than five (5) years.

The Independent Evaluation is aimed at verifying that “all applicable provisions of the STCW Convention and Code were covered by a Quality Management System.”

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐌𝐎 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬

Upon the completion of its Independent Evaluation, the Philippines through the MARINA shall prepare a consolidated report on the results of the evaluation and the steps taken to implement any subsequent mandatory amendments to the Convention and Code for submission to the IMO Secretary-General.

The IMO Secretary-General will designate competent persons from the list maintained to consider the report and provide their views upon the submission of the Philippine report.

After completing the review on the report, the competent persons shall, on a confidential basis, provide their view in writing to the Secretary-General.

In the event that the competent persons are unable to reach an affirmative conclusion, the competent persons should seek additional information or clarifications from the Philippines, through the Secretary-General, to assist them to reach their conclusion.

In return, the Secretary-General, taking into account the views expressed by the competent persons, shall submit a timely report to the Maritime Safety Committee when the information received from the competent persons confirms that “full and complete effect” is given to the provisions of the STCW Convention

The Maritime Safety Committee, having received the reports of the Secretary-General, shall, at the earliest possible time, identify those Parties which have satisfied the requirements of the Convention and the Code. These State Parties will comprise the so-called IMO White List.

As the premier provider of maritime professionals in the international seaborne trade, the Philippines attaches great importance to continuing inclusion of the IMO White List and this can only be achieved if the noted non-conformities and observations in the Independent Evaluation report are fully addressed so it can submit its report to the IMO Secretary-General.

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