Certified, but are they competent? Recruitment needs a new standard

Captain Vinil Gupta, of The World Yacht, worries that continuing professional development may be lacking in the maritime space

The maritime industry has always relied heavily on certificates. A seafarer presents a Certificate of Competency, a record of service, STCW refreshers, maybe a few specialist course certificates and the recruitment process begins. On paper, everything may look correct. The certificate is valid. The endorsements are in place. The sea time appears suitable. But here is the real question: is the person still competent today?