XI International Seminar “Quality Shipping: XXI Century Standard” SEAFARING CAREERS: RAISING THE PROFILE. LATVIA’S EXPERIENCE Ansis Zeltiņš Director Maritime Administration of Latvia St Petersburg, October, 2008

HYSTORICAL BACKGROUND Major competence from soviet time 95% of Latvian seafarers work on foreign flag vessels Vast majority use service of local crewing companies Not unified system of certification Not standardized educational programs Comparatively high number of fraud

STRATEGIC GOALS Highly competent seafarers Quality education Elimination of frauds

SOLUTIONS Change of national legal framework Principles of certification Increased document protection Industry involvement New concept of national maritime education system

PRINCIPLES OF CERTIFICATION Management level certificate after management level professional program Engine Room Simulator course mandatory for engineers All seafarers are certified, including ratings and non-STCW officers Two-level examination for new STCW qualification applicants

NEW EDUCATIONAL CONCEPT STCW officers on ships above 500 GT trained on the basis of secondary education QMS is a mandatory requirement for educational institutions and training centers Combined professional bachelor’s programs (operational+management) as well as masters programs Lifelong education Professional courses for management level officers Maritime educational programs agreed by the Registry of Seamen

CURRENT DATA ON SEAFARERS Statistics of certified Latvian seafarers

CURRENT DATA ON SEAFARERS Deck department2754 Masters above 3000 GT909 Engine department2668 Chief Engineers above 3000 kW901 Non STCW officers660 Ratings6728 Deck ratings (O/S, A/B, Bosun)4673 Engine ratings (oilers)2055 Non STCW ratings1841 Total: Latvian seafarers on international merchant fleet vessels

CURRENT DATA ON SEAFARERS Up to 40 years of age40 – 50 years of age50 – 60 years of ageOver 60 years of age 12%40%37%11% Masters Up to 30 years of age30 – 40 years of age40 – 50 years of ageOver 50 years of age 19%21%30% Officers Up to 30 years of age30 – 40 years of age40 – 50 years of ageOver 50 years of age 36%23% 18% Ratings Split of age between Latvian seafarers

MARITIME EDUCATION Graduates in 2008 Deck department Engine department Latvian Maritime Academy (academical) 7224 Maritime School (vocational) 5718 Liepāja Maritime College (college) 94110

OFFICERS’EDUCATION Qualification% with academic education % with college education Master on ships of 3000 GT and more Chief mate on ships of 3000 GT and more Watch officer on ships of 500 GT and more Chief engineer on ships of 3000 kW and more Second engineer on ships of 3000 kW and more Watch engineer on ships of 750 kW and more Total: Percentage of academic and college education of Latvian officers

LEONARDO DA VINCI Pilot project “Seafarer Certificate Forgery: the Threat Undermining the Quality of Training (GETQUALITY)” EU funded project Launched on 1 October countries, 7 partners Goals: Awareness of the situation Development of anti-fraud tool package Safeguard to protect ships from seafarers without genuine documents Improve co-operation among maritime seamen’s registers and educational institutions increase the reliability in recognition of certificates among members of the IMO

NUMBER OF ISSUED CERTIFICATES

FORGERY Officers’ competency certificates30%24%13%8% Ratings’ competency certificates28%14%24%12% Educational diplomas28%35%37%49% Course certificates14%21%24%22% Certificates of medical fitness0,5%1%2% Unlicensed entries in Seamen's books4%10% Statistics of document forgery

RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SEAFARERS PROFESSION AND MARITIME INDUSTRY THE KEY IS REALISTIC INFORMATION ABOUT: Maritime industry (different segments) The scope of job opportunities through different segments Importance of marine industry to everyone’s daily life Nature of responsibilities onboard

Thank you!