Seafarers obliged to have safety certificate

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: As of February 2002, all seafarers employed in ships plying domestic and international routes are required to have basic safety training certificates in line with a ruling of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

"All seamen in the province will be obliged to posses safety training certificates as Indonesia is a member of IMO," said Sabran Malisi, chief of the local transportation ministry.

He said that at least 800 seafarers in the province had yet to undergo basic safety training and that his office would organize safety training for seafarers early next month.

"We will coordinate with shipping agencies to send their staff and seafarers to participate in the basic training. Such training is needed by seafarers in facing emergencies in their workplace," he said. --Antara