Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Fishermen's Competency Certificates Convention, 1966 (No. 125) - Senegal (Ratification: 1968)

Article 4 of the Convention. Requirement to establish standards. In its previous comment, the Committee noted the adoption of Decree No. 2009-240 of 26 March 2009 on the organization and operation of the National Maritime Training School (hereinafter the ENFM) and requested the Government to provide information on the training programmes provided by the school with a view to issuing certificates for masters, mates and engineers on fishing vessels. The Committee notes the Government’s reply in its report that the ENFM “prepares middle-level officers (merchant shipping deck officers and engineers) of the merchant marine and fishing fleet for a period of two years”. For this purpose, it provides training programmes for certificates for masters and engineers on fishing vessels. Training for the certificate of a master of a fishing vessel covers 21 subjects for 32 hours. It combines theory and practice (theoretical and practical work) and includes compulsory traineeships, as well as the possibility to specialize. The certificate for a chief engineer 750 KM covers 13 subjects in theory and practice. The total number of hours is generally estimated at 890. The Committee notes that section 19, second subsection, of Decree No. 2009-240 refers to an order issued by the Minister responsible for the merchant marine determining the “conditions of access, the duration of training, the certificates and prerogatives of mariners”. In this regard, the Committee understands that the term “mariners” (marins) refers to “seafarers, including the necessary personnel on board for fishing, commercial and pleasure vessels”, within the meaning of section 2 of Decree No. 2009-240. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether an order to determine the conditions of access, the duration of training, the certificates and prerogatives of applicants to become officers on board fishing vessels has been adopted.

Article 6. Minimum age for the issue of a certificate of competency. The Committee notes that, in reply to its previous comment, the Government indicates that the minimum age for the issue of maritime vocational certificates to work as officers on board fishing vessels is “set at 20 years, with reference to the minimum age for admission to training leading to positions of responsibility on board such vessels”. The Committee notes in this regard that the age conditions for admission to the training provided by the ENFM are determined by the second subsection of section 22 of Decree No. 2009-240: 16 to 21 years as of 31 December of the year of the competition for competitions open to applicants with the middle school certificate (BFEM), and 16 to 25 years as of 31 December of the year of the competition for competitions open to applicants with a technical baccalaureate. The Committee also notes that, under the terms of section 26 of Decree No. 2009-240, the duration of school education for the various types of training is indicated in an Annex to the Decree. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the Annex to Decree No. 2009-240, which is not available, and to indicate the provisions which specify the duration of the training courses and, consequently, determine the minimum age at which the certificate can be obtained for officers on board fishing vessels.

Articles 7, 8 and 9. Minimum professional experience prescribed. The Committee recalls that these Articles of the Convention require candidates for the various certificates to have a minimum professional experience of sea service. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to give full effect to these Articles of the Convention.