Brussels, 14/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Council has put the final full-stop to the revision of the level of training for seafarers, thus aligning EU law with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) of the International Maritime Organisation. After the recent adoption of the 40/12 directive revised by the European Parliament, the Council then adopted it in Point A of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council on Tuesday 13 November.
This revision should inter alia help reduce fraudulent practices related to certification, better train seafarers on security (in case of piracy, for example), and prevent alcohol abuse. The revised legislation also provides for the collection of data on seafarers for statistical purposes. In addition, it extends the timeframe available to the Commission for recognition of the training and certification systems of non-European countries - from three to 18 months - as the three month period proved impossible to respect.
The update of the minimum level of training and certification for seafarers in line with the STCW Convention constituted one of the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency in its transport portfolio. (MD/transl.fl)