Pinoy seafarers at risk of being banned from EU ships?

Filipino seafarers are at risk of being banned from European Union-registered ships after “serious" concerns were raised about the type of training they are given, the news website of the New Zealand channel TVNZ said Friday (NZ time). The threat came in light with the recent incident in Tauranga, New Zealand, when the Greek-owned vessel, Rena, hit the Astrolabe reef on Oct. 5, which led to an oil spill dubbed as the country’s “worst environmental disaster in decades." The ship had an all-Filipino crew, most of whom have been sent back to the Philippines. The captain and the navigation officer, meanwhile, are facing charges for “operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary damage or risk." According to the TVNZ news website, the European Commission posed the threat “following a report by the European Maritime Safety Agency," which brought up concerns “about the level and quality of training for Filipino seafarers." Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Green Party called on the government to ensure “that all vessels entering New Zealand waters are crewed by well-trained individuals." “The Greens back the adoption of higher standards for coastal shipping that support the use of local crews and ships that know New Zealand waters and hazards," said Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman. The party-list leader clarified, however, that “the issue is not that the workers are Filipino." “Unfortunately, Filipino seafarers have become fodder in the global race to the bottom to produce and transport goods as cheaply as possible, and could be missing out on the proper training they need and deserve," he said. TVNZ said the European Commission reportedly warned the Philippine government last May that it would stop recognizing the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping certificates issued by the latter if they do not improve their maritime training and certification system. - VVP, GMA News