Brussels, 15/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - By 2012, the training of seafarers will be subject to new rules with regard to skills, professional profile, safety and certification.
The above proposal was adopted by the Commission on Wednesday 14 September in order to bring the directive on the training of seafarers into line with the international standards established by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention). Dating back to 1978, the international convention was adopted by the member nations of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and mainly concerns requirements for the training of officers. In June 2010, amendments were made to it and will shortly be taken on board in EU legislation. As EU member states are also signatory to the convention, it is important for international and European legislation to be in line with each other. Amendments must lead to updating with regard to: - medical fitness, fitness for duty and alcohol abuse; - the introduction of new professional profiles such as “able seafarers” and “electro-technical officers”; - security-related training for all seafarers; - and simpler and clearer types of certificates.
Furthermore, the new directive will contain improvements regarding procedures (comitology and recognition of a third state), and the requirement that member states should annually provide statistics for the Commission, as European decision-makers are all too often faced with a lack of reliable data concerning seafarer training.
Generally speaking, the standardisation of training at global level allows European vessels to be able to count on having well-trained seafaring crews, regardless of where the crew receives training. As Siim Kallas, Commission Vice-President responsible for transport, said: “As maritime transport is a global industry, it is vital to also set minimum standards for training on an international scale.” (MD/transl.jl)