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European Maritime Safety Agency

Quality Shipping: XXI Century

Standards

Seafaring Careers: Raising the profile

St. Petersburg 22nd 23rd of October 2008

Michael Hunter Head of Unit B.1

Safety Assessment and Inspections

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Ways to improve the maritime vocation in the eyes of youngsters belonging to the traditional maritime nations of Europe?

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EMSA - Background

December 12, 1999, ERIKADecember 12, 1999, ERIKA

The European CommissionReinforces existing maritime legislation

The ERIKA I & II packages

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EMSA - Legal Basis

EMSA established as part of the ERIKA II packageEMSA established as part of the ERIKA II package

• Regulation (EC) 1406/2002– Regulation (EC) 1644/2003– Regulation (EC) 724/2004– Regulation (EC) 2038/2006

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EMSA - Tasks

The Agency carries out technical tasks related to:The Agency carries out technical tasks related to:

• Prevention of pollution at sea

• Response to pollution by ships

• Ensuring Maritime Security (ship-related aspects)

• Improving Maritime Safety

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EMSA - Organisation

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EMSA – B.1.3 Training of seafarers

Comprising nine staff, experienced in different fields:Comprising nine staff, experienced in different fields:

• Five master mariner and one marine engineer.• Five having maritime administration background• Four having maritime educational background • Three of whom holds PhD. degree

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EMSA – B.1.3 Training of seafarers

Main task according to European legislationMain task according to European legislation

Assistance to the Commission and the Member States to verify whether the country concerned meets all the requirements of the STCW Convention and whether the appropriate measures have been taken to prevent fraud involving certificates (2001/25/EC)

Assistance to the Commission to verify on a regular basis and at least every five years that Member States comply with the minimum requirements laid down by (this) Directive. (2005/45/EC)

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EMSA – B.1.3 Training of seafarersVisited non-EU countries Visited EU Member States

Algeria Belgium

Bangladesh Bulgaria

Cape Verde Cyprus

Croatia Italy

Ecuador Malta

Egypt Poland

Georgia Portugal

Israel Romania

Morocco Sweden

Singapore

Sri Lanka

Tunisia

Turkey

Philippines

Uruguay

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Ways to improve the maritime vocation in the eyes of youngsters belonging to the traditional maritime nations of Europe?

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Ways to improve the maritime vocation

Three relevant questions to answerThree relevant questions to answer What is the seafaring profession about? What are the requirements to be fulfilled? What is the seafarers’ environment?

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Ways to improve the maritime vocation

Three relevant questions to answerThree relevant questions to answer What is the seafaring profession about? What are the requirements to be fulfilled? What is the seafarers’ environment?

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Ways to improve the maritime vocation

Three relevant questions to answerThree relevant questions to answer What is the seafaring profession about? What are the requirements to be fulfilled? What is the seafarers’ environment?

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Ways to improve the maritime vocation

Three relevant questions to answerThree relevant questions to answer What is the seafaring profession about? What are the requirements to be fulfilled? What is the seafarers’ environment?

SalarySalary

Family (children and spouses)Family (children and spouses)

Possibilities to stay in contactPossibilities to stay in contact

Possibility to be promoted Possibility to be promoted

Culture to start businessCulture to start business

Time onboard vs. time at homeTime onboard vs. time at home

Get a good job at homeGet a good job at home

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The global state of affairs?

A generalised pictureA generalised picture In Country “High Level” In Country “Minimum Level”

Generally higher salaries, but… Generally higher salaries, but…

Relatively fast promotion opportunitiesRelatively fast promotion opportunities

Shorter tour of duties Shorter tour of duties

High average ageHigh average age

Officers with experience, highly attractive in Administrations etc. Officers with experience, highly attractive in Administrations etc.

High % start directly to work ashore i.e. “power plants etc” High % start directly to work ashore i.e. “power plants etc”

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The global state of affairs?

A generalised pictureA generalised picture In Country “High Level” In Country “Minimum Level”

Normally low salaries, which may increaseNormally low salaries, which may increase

Longer tour of duties, with a risk to be even longerLonger tour of duties, with a risk to be even longer

Demand factors, may affect time spent in the profession Demand factors, may affect time spent in the profession

In some countries, high number of dropouts from educationIn some countries, high number of dropouts from education

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What can the shipping community do?

To increase the profile of the maritime vocationTo increase the profile of the maritime vocation

The study by ECSA and ETF on career progression in maritime sectors argue that former officers make attractive employees in shore based professions and progress from the middle to top middle management. However, due to the general lack of management or business qualifications, very few progress further.The Mapping of Career Paths in the Maritime Industries, Southampton Solent University, ECSA, ETF and with the support of European Commission.

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What can the shipping community do?

To increase the profile of the maritime vocationTo increase the profile of the maritime vocation

“ As well as addressing the issue of payment terms and conditions of seafarers, it is also important for social partners to look at working conditions on board vessels which are considered to make the sector less attractive – including long absences away from home.”Exhaustive analysis of employment trends in all sectors related to sea or using sea recourses, ECOTEC, European Commission.

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What can the shipping community do?

To increase the profile of the maritime vocationTo increase the profile of the maritime vocation

“ When asked what should keep our respondents at sea there was a general consensus that more money and increased financial benefits coupled with shorter voyages would be a step in the right direction”

Life at sea survey 2007/08, Shiptalk ltd.

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What can the shipping community do?

To increase the profile of the maritime vocationTo increase the profile of the maritime vocation

Good education, possibly leading to an academic path

The importance of promoting skilled seafarers into the shore based employment, such as in administrations, classification societies and shipping companies.

Good working conditions particularly related to tour of duties i.e. equal time onboard as ashore

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Seafaring career: Raising the profile

FinallyFinally

The frontrunners will be those companies that firstfirst recognise the importance of the knowledge gained by well educated seafarers and give them the possibility to manage a good life when they are on leave.

Those companies will indirectly indirectly promote and raise the profile of the maritime profession.

22Thank you