The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency will go ahead with a review of certificates of equivalent competency (CEC) despite the recent departure of John Hayes, the country's minister of state for transport.
Hayes had called for the review late last year in response to lobbying by global officers’ union Nautilus International amid concern over the standard of foreign officers working on UK-flag ships.
There are around 10,500 non-UK officers holding CECs, which allow them to work on UK-flag vessels.
The call for a review also comes in response to a warning from the European Commission that UK officers’ certificates are unlikely to be automatically recognised by European flags following the Brexit negotiations.
As things stand, UK officers' certificates are automatically recognised by all EU member states. However, Hayes was removed from the post of shipping minister following UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s recent cabinet reshuffle.
A Nautilus spokesperson said the union had been given assurances that a working group to carry out the CEC review was now being formed. He added that he had been told that Maritime and Coastguard Agency chief executive Alan Massey was prioritising the matter.
Hayes' replacement has yet to be confirmed. However, newly appointed transport minister Jo Johnson is among the candidates who could be given responsibility for shipping.
