ON OUR WAY FORWARD ; Message from the Managing Director

   

2nd quarter of 2014 will be an exciting period for the Philippines, Cadets, Shipowners and NTC-M. 

   Cadet selection; In   April   we at NTC-M will start the final selection of candidates to be presented to our clients for the 22nd batch, graduating class of 2018. The recruitment process this year has been a success, number of applicants has increased with about 25% and we have entered into fruitful cooperation with PMMA where we were allowed to use their recruitment network, enabling us to search for candidate from all over the country, from North to South. 

  We hope to be able to present to you the finest young boys and girls aspiring to be future Captains and Chief Engineers. 

   Graduation; 327 Cadets in a not too distant future will  be standing on the doorstep to their future life as  seafarers. It is an important time for all. For the cadets who need to start their review for board exams and take their final courses, and for their companies who should support them in this vital period and make sure they will be able to finish within reasonable time and embark their new life on-board as seafarers as soon as possible. We have all a common interest in making this a smooth transition. 

   EMSA completed their audit in October last year and have forwarded the report to MARINA, who in turn have responded on the report. Despite the fact that MARINA and the Philippines have accomplished a lot in the last 12 months, we know there are still quite a few major items that needs to be addressed further, in order to be in alignment with the convention. Major shortcomings are still; lack of monitoring, evaluation and assessment at the different schools, lack of proper audits, closing of audit findings, lack of laboratory hours & conflict of interest in examinations during PRC exams are items that needs to be rectified as soon as possible. A huge step in the right direction was made March 13th of 2014, when President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the Republic Act No. 10635 establishing MARINA as the single maritime administration responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the 1978 STCW as amended and international agreements or covenants related thereto. MARINA has now the tool to rectify findings described in previous EMSA audits. 

   The work is  still ongoing in the NTC-M 2015 project. We carried out a customer survey in November 2013 trying to plot a heading to steer into the future. The respondents are controlling 1,392 vessels with the following composition; tanker vessels 25%, chemical vessels 20%, offshore vessels 19%, bulk/RORO/container vessels 19% and 16% LNG/LPG vessels. From the survey it will  not be  very easy to prepare proper voyage plan. However, and without being a big surprise STCW courses was in huge demand. 

   Without being a direct result of the customer survey, we can foresee the need for an advanced simulator that can handle both offshore and traditional shipping. The conclusion is based on the fact that the number of participants indicated on the  offshore-related safety courses. It is a strong indication that the offshore fleet, slowly but surely are heading into the same direction as the traditional shipping - to have more and more Filipinos onboard their vessels, hence the need for more training on all levels. 

   In many traditional shipping companies the seaman has to pay for his own STCW courses. With the new STCW 2010 amendment NTC-M can face new challenges as courses today known as company specific, will be mandatory under the STCW regime. If the seaman still is the one who will choose where to attend STCW courses he will most probably choose the cheapest training centre - is that the way forward? 

   Wishing you all a smooth sailing, fair wind and following seas.