Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Fishermen's Competency Certificates Convention, 1966 (No. 125) - Syrian Arab Republic (Ratification: 1969)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, in particular the competency certificates which are granted by the General Directorate for Ports in accordance with Ministerial Order No. 1618 of 22 October 2003 to fishing vessels of less than 40 tons engaged in coastal navigation. The Committee also notes that in its last report concerning the application of the Officers’ Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 (No. 53), the Government made reference to Act No. 57 of 2001 on marine certificates. As neither of these texts are available in the Office, the Committee would appreciate receiving copies.

The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that it is planning to inaugurate a training and certification centre, attached to the General Directorate for Ports, with the task of organizing certification sessions for fishers and seafarers. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on the activities of the training and certification centre once it has been established.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes that the Government last communicated practical information on the application of the Convention in 1981. According to the indications reported at that time, there were only four fishing vessels of over 25 gross registered tons, but those vessels were exclusively engaged in inshore fishing and thus considered to be excluded from the scope of the Convention by virtue of Article 2. Noting that the situation as regards the application of the Convention must necessarily have evolved over the last 25 years, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide up to date information in its next report including, for instance, statistical data on the fishing vessels to which the Convention applies, the number of persons taking the qualifying examination, the number of competency certificates issued annually and inspection results showing the number and nature of any contraventions reported, etc.