The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the inclusion anew of the Philippines in the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) White List reinforces the country’s position as major provider of seafarers globally.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said inclusion in the list is aligned with the government’s goal to establish the Philippines as the Marine Capital of the World by providing the global maritime industry with world-class Filipino seafarers.
“Our goal is to entrench the position of the Philippines as the Maritime Capital of the World by continuously supplying the global maritime industry with high standards Filipino seafarers,” Bautista said in a statement yesterday.
The IMO White List serves as a roster of parties recognized for their commitment to maintaining high standards in maritime education, training and certification for seafarers.
Being included in the list also signifies that the seafarers trained and certified in the Philippines meet the rigorous international standards set by the IMO Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention.
“Our inclusion in this list displays our unwavering commitment not only to comply with the requirements of the STCW Convention but also to continuously improve our system. As one of the leading providers of seafarers globally, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our maritime workforce is well-equipped and compliant with international regulations,” said.
Sonia Malaluan, administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority.
After the 2022 IMO Independent Evaluation, the DOTr through the Marina has implemented and monitored the corrective actions for the benefit of almost 50,000 Filipino seafarers employed by European-flagged vessels.
The IMO Maritime Safety Committee confirmed that the Philippines has fully complied with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention.
