Philippines makes it to IMO 'white list' — DOTr

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Wednesday that the Philippines was once again included on the so-called “white list” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

In a news release, the DOTr said the country’s inclusion on the white list affirms the Philippines’ status as a major provider of world-class Filipino seafarers in the global maritime industry.

Citing the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Transportation Department said the recognition was given for the country’s commitment to maintaining high standards in maritime education, training, and certification for Filipino seafarers.

It said that the IMO white list signifies that seafarers trained and certified in the Philippines meet the rigorous international standards set by the IMO Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.

"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-standard Filipino seafarers," said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

He added that the DOTr is determined to address challenges faced by the maritime industry in the country.

In December 2022, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) notified the Philippines of some deficiencies, including serious ones, such as in the Philippine seafarers’ education, training, and certification system.

MARINA has since exerted efforts to consistently implement and monitor the corrective actions for the benefit of almost 50,000 Filipino seafarers employed by European-flagged vessels.

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) later confirmed that the Philippines had fully complied with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention. —VBL, GMA Integrated News