Montenegrin seafarers will be able to establish employment relationship on the ships sailing under the Dutch flag, reads the Proposal Memorandum of understanding between the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands that was adopted by the Government yesterday.
Considering that the professionalism in performing maritime affairs is the most critical factor in safe and efficient ship management and has direct impact on life safety at sea and protection of the sea, International Maritime Organization has adopted Conventions on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers of 7 July 1978, which Montenegro accepted in October of 2007.
“STCW Convention envisages a comprehensive set of rules with the aim of maintaining the highest standards of education, training and certification of seafarers in a country that is Convention signatory. In addition, the Convention provides the possibility of mutual recognition of issued authorizations as well as special authorizations between the two countries”, reads the document of the Government.
Montenegro has already signed similar Memorandums with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Portugal, Antigua and Barbuda, Norway, Commonwealth of Bahamas, Japan, Hong Kong and Italy.
Even though Montenegro is on the EU’s white paper when it comes to seafarers’ training and certification issued by Montenegro, maritime administrations of specific authorities require inevitably such bilateral memorandums so that our seafarers can find job more easily.
“This Memorandum will enable our seafarers to keep their jobs in foreign companies and make progress there, in accordance with the STCW Convention”, reads the document.
The Government has authorized Minister Osman Nurković to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the representatives of the Ministry of the Netherlands.
