Recently, the China Maritime Safety Administration received a confirmation letter from the Maritime Affairs Agency of the European Union. China's work on fulfilling the International Convention on Seafarers Training, Certification, and Duty Standards (STCW Convention, 1978) was approved by the Maritime Affairs Agency of the European Union. This means that China’s related performance work has been recognized by 29 European countries at the same time, which has created favorable conditions for China to sign a seafarers’ certification agreement with EU member states.

According to the relevant EU legislation, the Maritime Affairs Agency of the European Union is authorized to carry out this accreditation work on behalf of the 27 member states of the European Union and two observer countries.

From October 15 to October 24, 2012, the Maritime Affairs Agency of the European Union conducted a 10-day comprehensive assessment of seafarer education, training, examinations and certification work in accordance with the bilateral review and assessment plan of the China Maritime Safety Administration and the European Maritime Affairs Agency. . The China Maritime Safety Administration successfully completed the review work and gave feedback on the issues raised by the inspection and evaluation team in a timely manner. It was highly evaluated by the inspection team of the Maritime Affairs Agency of the European Union and verified the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the implementation of the STCW Convention and its amendments in China. .

According to reports, the Maritime Affairs Agency of the European Union (EU Maritime Bureau) has already carried out this assessment on 41 States parties to the International Maritime Organization. Only some countries have been approved. At present, the number of foreign seafarers in China has rapidly increased from 30,000 in 2006 to 120,000 in 2013, making it the world’s second largest exporter of seafarers. The EU's recognition has opened the door to the European shipping market for Chinese seafarers and also marks the entry of Chinese seafarers into the ranks of internationally qualified seafarers.