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Despite earlier apprehension about
possible disruption to trade
following the entry of the
International Maritime Organisation-sanctioned
Standards, Training, Certification &
Watchkeeping '95 (STCW'95) beginning
August this year, its implementation
in Malaysia proceeded smoothly,
thanks to the Marine Department that
adopted a flexible approach towards
the enforcement of the manning
rules.
In a moved aimed at minimising the
problems faced by Malaysian
seafarers, who are required to
re-validate their competency
certificates under the STCW'95, the
Marine Department initiated a series
of memorandum of understandings with
several countries from which mutual
recognition of the certification was
agreed.
According to the Peninsular Malaysia
Marine Department, 20 MOUs have been
concluded with countries worldwide
that allows seafarers from signatory
countries to serve on board flag
vessels from the respective
countries.
Upon application by seafarers from
these countries for re-validation of
the certificates to serve on board
Malaysian flag ships, the Department
will issue Certificate of
Recognition after it is satisfied
with the authenticity of the
certificates.
According to the director general of
Peninsular Malaysia Marine
Department, Raja Datuk Malik
Saripulzan, who participated in a
Malaysian Shipowners' Association-organised
forum on STCW'95 and the
International Ship Management Code,
the department has yet not signed
with two major maritime countries -
Japan and the United Kingdom.
Raja Malik said this at a forum
organised by the Malaysian
Shipowners Association in Kuala
Lumpur. The meeting was attended by
about 40 shipping companies.
Raja Malik also said under the MOU
contracting countries could send
their auditors to evaluate the
standards at any time and "if it is
found that standards do not meet the
requirements, the countries may
withdraw from the MOU and report to
the IMO on the fallen standards."
On the implementation of the ISM
Code, the Marine Department
disclosed that to-date 25 foreign
companies and 66 local companies
have been audited by the department
for compliance to the mandatory
international code on quality ships.
The Marine Department, which in the
past had delegated the inspection to
class societies, had now taken over
full responsibilities for the
inspections to be carried out by its
own officers.
In this regard the Department has
carried out such inspections abroad
on Malaysian flag vessels managed or
operated by foreign companies.
Touching on reports of differences
in standards between inspections
carried out by class societies and
port state control, Raja Malik said
this could arise but under the Tokyo
MOU PSC inspectors expected to
follow guidelines set by the
regional port state grouping.
He also disclosed that the Tokyo MOU
had accepted Malaysia's proposal
that shipowners be given the right
to decide on where to send their
ships for repair if the vessels are
detained to defects identified under
the ISM. |
