A WEB page enabling workers to gain rapid access to essential information about their health and safety rights and responsibilities has been set up by the Health and Safety Executive.

The "workers’ webpage" http://www.hse.gov.uk/ workers
- covers the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees, as well as issues such as ‘whistle-blowing’ and reporting accidents.

The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), the only government-owned maritime training center in the country, emphasized the importance of maritime researches and studies to give the industry a better understanding of the human factor in shipping.

Through a one-day symposium held at the Casa Marinero in Intramuros on September 21, 2006, which was also held as part of the celebration of the National Maritime Week, research experts of NMP underscored the importance of thorough and careful analytical studies in order to give the maritime industry a tool to develop appropriate response or mechanism to whatever challenges that may arise, particularly with regards to Filipino seafarers.

Nissa C. Espiritu, research specialist of NMP presented her study with regards to Stress Management Profile of Filipino Seafarers. The study was validated with appropriate responses from Commo. Adonis B. Donato, president of the Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines (MMAP); and Capt. Gregorio S. Oca, president of the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP).

The second research was presented by Grace Marie T. Ayaso, Head of NMP’s Planning, Research and Project Development Division. She made a presentation on the Factors Affecting Career Progression of Filipino Merchant Marine Officers to Management Level Positions.

Given the current officer shortage that the global industry is feeling, it was a humdinger topic that drew reactions from Josephine Francisco, erstwhile president of the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment (FAME); Capt. Telesforo Solda, president of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association; and Noriel Devanadera, director of the Licensing and Regulatory Office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administratior.

The research also drew a lot of comments and reactions from participants during the open forum, as expected, considering the timeliness of the issues tackled on the study.

The study actually gave five key recommendations in order to ensure the career progression of Filipino merchant marine officers onboard – one major role each for shipowners, manning companies, maritime education and training institutions, government agencies, and of course, the Filipino seafarers themselves.

It gives stakeholders in the maritime industry – both in the global arena and in the local front – the precious opportunity to carefully chart the future course of the maritime industry by looking into training and upgrading as a likely recourse to continuously ensure the supply of competent Filipino merchant marine officers, all capable of making it to the ranks of management level officers, to man a good number of vessels of the world fleet.

A consultative workshop among participants was then held in the afternoon, putting into consideration the two studies earlier presented.
 

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