THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING THE PROACTIVE APPROACH IN MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING

1. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING THE PROACTIVE APPROACH IN MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING Axel Luttenberger, Ph.D., Full ProfessorBiserkaRukavina, Ph.D., Senior Assistant University of RijekaFaculty of Maritime Studies RijekaStudentska 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatiaaxel@pfri.hr, biserka@pfri.hr

2. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING THE PROACTIVE APPROACH IN MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING Introduction International standards of training and certification for seafarers Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2008 on the minimum level of training of seafarers (recast) European Maritime Safety Agency The position of the Republic of Croatia related to maritime education and training Conclusions

3. International standards of training and certification for seafarers • 1978. – the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, STCW 1978 • provides the minimum of standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers on an international level. • 1995 – Amendments to the STCW Convention What does the “White List” mean to seafarers? If a country is on the “White List”, it means that the IMO has deemed it to be in full and complete compliance with STCW 95. Accordingly, other countries should accept their certificates and amendments. Seafarers holding certificates or endorsements issued by “White list” countries should find it easier to get a job on a foreign ship and to get endorsements from other countries than seafarers whose certificates are from countries not on the “White List”. • Croatia is one of the states included on the White List.

4. International standards of training and certification for seafarers • 2010 – second major revision, adoption of the Manila amendments • New certification requirements for able seafarers; • New requirements relating to training in modern technology such as electronic charts and informationsystem; • New requirements for security training; • New training guidance for personnel operating dynamic positioning systems.

5. Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of theCouncil of 3 December 2008 on the minimum level of training of seafarers (recast) • The Commission stresses the need to promote maritime employment and address current shortages of European seafarers: „…there is a genuine EU interest in emphasizing the attractiveness of the maritime professions to Europeans by means of actions thatinvolve, where appropriate , the Commission, the Member States and the industry itself.“ • Although many seafarers operating in EU waters were educated in Europe, it is important to note that ships operating in EU waters are often manned by seafarers who are not nationals of EU Member States. • To ensure competency of both European and non-European crews, the Commission adopted a set of specific rules on the training and certification of seafarers through Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2008 on the minimum level of training of seafarers (recast)

6. Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of theCouncil of 3 December 2008 on the minimum level of training of seafarers (recast) • The Directive prescribes the certification procedure. • Member States are authorized to monitor seafarers serving on board any ship using their ports, irrespective of the flag it flies, in particular in order to verify that all seafarers who are required to hold a certificate by the STCW Convention. • Member State must ensure that necessary procedures for the impartial investigation of any incompetence, act or omission that may pose a direct threat to the safety of human life, the safety of goods at sea or the marine environment are establish; • This Directive provides that Member State grant automatic recognition to certificates of competence issued to seafarers by other Member State and that Member State prevent and penalize fraudulent practices associated with seafarers certificates.

7. THE POSITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA RELATED TO MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING • The Republic of Croatia has implemented rules laid down in the STCW 1978/95 Convention. • After accession to the European Union, it shell be directly bound by Directive 2008/106/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers. • Conditions of certification and training of seafarers in Croatia are prescribed by: • The Maritime Code, (Official Gazette, 181/04). • The Ordinance on Vocations and Certificates of Competencies for Seafarers, (Official Gazette, 50/07, 62/09,142/10). • At present, there are about 31,000 seafarers in Croatia and more than 20,000 of them are on ships owned by foreign companies.

8. THE POSITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA RELATED TO MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING • Croatia has along experience in university-level maritime education. The earliest record of the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Rijeka is 1866 when Austro-Hungarian Naval Academy was founded. • Croatia has well established education and training institutions for seafarers as well as universities. At these institutions and universities, seafarers can receive not only a solid theoretical basis but also develop good practical skills. Croatian maritime qualification is based on interaction of education, training and working onboard ships.

9. Conclusions • In the proactive approach it is necessary that the maritime training institutions in Croatia implement their program content efficiently and effectively in accordance with revised STCW Convention requirements and the contents of the IMO Model Courses as well as EU directives related to a seafarer’s education and training system. • They must improve the standards of the teaching staff, facilities and equipment and proactively support the efforts by agencies such as European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to develop and implement STCW requirements. • At the regional level,EU Candidate countries, such as Croatia, must observe the directives in order to provide seafarers with good theoretical background and practical skills for work in the maritime industry.