OPENING ADDRESS BY THE HON. CENSU GALEA, MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS, DURING A SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON ASSESSMENT, EXAMINATION AND CERTIFICATION OF SEAFARERS – MALTA – 16 JULY 2001

The 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (commonly known as the STCW Convention) represents the shipping community’s initial recognition of the importance of the human element. The adoption of the STCW Convention in 1978 was the first attempt by the international maritime community to establish global minimum professional standards for seafarers. However, near twenty years after the adoption of this convention, it was clear that there was the need to better define training standards as well as standards for the demonstration and evaluation of competence.

The 1995 amendments to the STCW Convention were in fact conceived to achieve worldwide uniformity of the minimum level of seafarers’ competence. In this regard, this Seminar could be seen as a follow up of the main objective of the 1995 amendments to the convention, but, from the practical and implementation aspects. No international convention can serve the purpose for which it was created unless properly implemented. It is thus fitting that this Seminar aims at assisting State Parties to the STCW Convention to uniformly implement competence-based training and assessment programmes. With crews becoming even more mobile it is crucial that seafarers be trained to the same level of competency and that the international shipping community should be able to rely on the certificates they hold verifying that they do possess the required skills and standards.

I recall quite vividly that back in 1998 my first official engagement as Minister responsible for shipping was the inauguration of a similar seminar and workshop on the STCW Convention organized by Germanischer Lloyd in collaboration with the Merchant Shipping Directorate of the Malta Maritime Authority. At that stage the Directorate was in the initial stages of implementation of the new provisions of the convention. Since then IMO found out that Malta was giving full and complete effect to the provisions of the STCW Convention and thereby secured an early place in the so-called "White List". Moreover, considerable progress has been made on the implementation of various aspects of the convention. Malta should thus be in a position to comply with all the provisions of this instrument when the five year transitional period related to the issuance, recognition and endorsement of certificates comes to an end on the 1^st February, 2002.

The setting up of the Institute is a realization of a long term objective of successive Maltese Government Administrations evidence of the national commitment in the field of maritime training. The Institute for Maritime Studies will not only take over the functions and activities of the existing Nautical School, which has for years provided high level training leading to the issue of STCW Convention certificates at all levels, but will eventually also embark on a training programme for shore based personnel.

The establishment of the Institute will hopefully herald a new era for maritime training in Malta, an era which would not have been possible without the sterling contribution of a small number of dedicated people who throughout the years were either directly involved in the training of seafarers or who indirectly have encouraged maritime training. At this stage please allow me to publicly acknowledge the particular contribution of Captain Charles Kerr who for a long number of years led our Nautical School.

I wish you all a week of fruitful work and success in your endeavours to ensure the highest standards of seafarers’ training and competence. To all our guests, I hope that their stay in Malta will not only be a fruitful one, but also a pleasant one which will enable them to experience our version of the warm Mediterranean hospitality.

Thank you.