Last chance saloon as Philippines awaits EMSA audit results

The audit lasted from 7 – 24 October and Philippine government and crewing industry officials now face an anxious wait for a draft report due to be sent to Manila in mid-November.

In a process that has now dragged on since 2006, the October audit does really seem to be the last chance saloon for Philippines to get its act together, before a long threatened ban on seafarers.

Not surprisingly Philippines government officials have been expressing confidence in public that it will pass the audit. Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union Victoria Bataclan expressed confidence last week that the country would pass the audit.

It should be noted similar statements were made at the time of April audit, which in retrospect did not go as well as officials had hoped.

There is actually some precedent for the European Union banning Philippines transportation related activity on safety and competency grounds. It is, however, in the aviation sector. In mid-2010 all Philippines airlines were banned from flying to the EU on the grounds of “serious safety deficiencies” joining a blacklist of 27 countries. The ban was only partially lifted in July allowing Philippines Airlines to once again fly to Europe, which it is set to do so from next month.

While it does show that Europe is willing act where it believes safety is truly compromised cynics would also note that at the time ban was instituted there were no Philippines airlines were actually flying to Europe so there was no real impact beyond a requirement by European travel agents to warn passengers of the blacklisting if the booked an onwards connection outside Europe on a Philippines carrier.

The situation if the Philippines fails the EMSA audit would be rather different as it would have very real impact particularly in terms of officers. Even if there was a grace period for owners and managers to make other arrangements

A ban would be a very major step, but if the Philippines does not make the grade, there would seem to be limited options in terms of what EMSA can do while remaining credible given the number of chances it has already given the country’s maritime training industry.

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