The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has issued a binding instruction to the Port Authorities of Kotor and Bar that, in the process of acquiring titles and issuing maritime authorizations, they can only accept documents on acquired qualifications issued by educational institutions that meet all internationally prescribed requirements.
Maritime Affairs Minister Filip Radulović recalled that the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) warned that accepting documents issued by institutions that do not have appropriate licenses and standards calls into question the status of seafarers and the credibility of the Montenegrin maritime administration.
"All educational institutions must have programs aligned with the STCW Convention and IMO Model Courses, a certificate of education quality issued by recognized organizations, mandatory equipment for conducting practical classes, an implemented quality system in accordance with international rules, and be under the supervision of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs," the ministry announced.
Radulović said that documents issued outside these conditions will not be recognized.
"The Ministry remains committed to ensuring the quality of maritime education and preserving the international competitiveness of Montenegrin seafarers," he said.
The binding instruction was issued on May 28th, and from that date, qualification documents that do not meet the specified requirements will not be recognized in the process of verifying the trainee's diary, the statement said.
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