Pat Cox
Question:34 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for the Marine the requirements, if any, there are in respect of crew qualification on Irish-registered ships that non-Irish crew members be proficient in the English language.
Written Answers. - Crew Qualification on Irish Registered Ships.
Martin Cullen
Question:66 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for the Marine the conditions that are required by non-EC residents in respect of working on Irish ships.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 34 and 66 together.
Non-EC resident serving as deck and engineer officers on Irish flagged vessels are required to hold certificates of competency issued by the Irish authorities or, alternatively, certificates of competency from countries with whom the State has reciprocal recognition arrangements, which are currently the UK and a number of former Commonwealth countries.
Ratings of all nationalities may serve on Irish flagged vessels provided they are qualified seamen and hold watchrating certificates as required by the standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention, 1978.
All deck and engineer officers on Irish flagged vessels must demonstrate proficiency in English in order to obtain certificates of competency. A good understanding of the English language by all other crew members is always recommended by the Department in the interests of ensuring correct and timely communication and understanding of messages and instructions.
Experience of marine casualties has shown that accidents are more likely to occur in ships where there are multinational crews who are unable to communicate effectively with each other. This issue and other training criteria need to be addressed at international level to ensure that all flag states enforce equally high standards for their crews. The difficulties of poor communication, aggravated by language difficulties, as a contributory factor in accidents must be addressed as a priority.
I am, therefore, fully supportive of the current proposal at Community level to introduce a Directive on the Minimum Level of Training for Maritime Occupations. The purpose of the Directive is to improve the application and enforcement of international training standards on board all ships registered in the Community or entering Community ports, as well as to improve communication among multi-language crews. Ireland is already a party to the relevant International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. I am confident that the EC Directive which is at an advanced stage will strengthen the hand of Ireland and other Community states in ensuring that existing international standards are improved and enforced on all ships in Community waters.