WELCOME MESSAGE OF THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS (DOTC), as Chairperson, Philippine National Organizing Committee

On behalf of the Philippine government, we wish to express our welcome and felicitation to all delegates to the Conference of Parties to Adopt Amendments to the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers, as amended in 1995 and the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code, otherwise known as the 2010 STCW Diplomatic Conference, which will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines, from 21 to 25 June 2010.

The Philippines' Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), as Chairman, together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as Vice-Chairmen, are the lead agencies for the Philippine hosting of the 2010 STCW Diplomatic Conference which will provide a venue for IMO member states to continue their work relating to the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and the STCW Code towards achieving competence, training, certification and education of seafarers, in the light of recent developments.

This Diplomatic Conference is doubly significant to the Philippines as host, being the major provider of trained, qualified and competent seafarers. It will likewise be the culmination of the current work of the Sub-Committee on the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code.

This year being declared as the "Year of the Seafarer" is an opportune time for IMO and the maritime community to pay tribute to seafarers from all over the world for their unique contribution to society and in recognition of the risks they confront in the execution of their daily tasks and duties. The selection of the theme for this year's World Maritime Day is also in line with the "Go to Sea!" campaign. The theme will help attract continued attention to some unique hazards confronting seafarers - such as pirate attacks, unwarranted detention and abandonment, coupled with the predicted looming shortage of ships' officers.

We thereby invite delegates to go through this Conference website which provides the general information on administrative arrangements for the Conference and other social activities.

We hope to see all of you in Manila.