Advisory Group Formed for Upcoming EMSA Audit

The Maritime Industry Authority of the Philippines’ STCW office is making final preparations for the upcoming European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) audit.

As part of its preparations, an advisory group composed of seasoned marine officers has been formed. The group includes the country’s expert on the STCW 2010 Manila amendments.
‘I cannot do everything, so I am asking help from the outside,’ said Marina Administrator Marcial Amaro. 

The STCW Office is also beefing up its in-house inspectors with marine officers for the monitoring of maritime schools and training centers. 

‘It’s one of our weaknesses, mainly because those conducting the audit of maritime education institutions are non-practitioners,’ explained Capt. Ely Diaz, Executive Director of the STCW Office. 

16 inspectors have been assigned for the said inspections. All of them highly qualified and are not linked to any maritime schools at the moment.

‘I told them that this our last chance to help our country… We’re all in the same boat, if it sinks and fail the EMSA audit, we will fail the IMO and we will be blacklisted. We will all be irrelevant,’ emphasized Diaz.