• Research the nature and extent of forgery
The aim of the project is to gain better information of the status of certificate forgery, to identify weaknesses of present checking methods and how these relate to the objectives set by the Copenhagen Declaration.2
Based on such study the characteristics and extent of unlawful practises will be evaluated. The specific needs of all the different groups will be better identified which research will help to focus on the real nature of the maritime forgery problem. This will be the basis for designing appropriate solutions.
• Stocktaking of specimen certificates and documents
Since efficient communication between maritime administrations at European level, enabling continuous exchange of information among parties is an important element in recognition of certificates there is currently a paradox in that, within the EU, the mutual recognition between Member States is in fact more difficult than recognition of third country certificates.
Various administrations recognising certificates from other administrations do so on the basis of scanty or incomplete information about the format and security features included.
The objective is to reduce the potential for fraud by establishing a collection of formats sampled from training providers, seafarers’ registers, professional associations etc. within the countries of the partnership. These will be used as patterns in authenticity checks.
• Pinpointing critical areas
The first step in solving the problem is to recognise its existence and investigate the causes. Fraudulent practises will be more and more recognised as a problem by raising awareness and improving channels of communications between the target groups and the partnership.
All the previous findings and information must be centralised and compiled and made available to anti-fraud personnel. Fraudulent practises are adapting to new technologies and organisational changes. Therefore the staff concerned to detect and combat these practises should be equipped with a counselling guidance tool. This training tool will be targeted to address the main weaknesses identified by the research study. Thus the obstacles to verifying certificates can be overcome when the staff who carry out the verification or issue of new certificates have access to relevant and timely information. Effective implementation of the anti-fraud tool is expected to be a key element to detecting and reducing fraud.
• Development of the an image bank
The principle outcome is to equip certificate examiners with a secure image bank of certificates which will help them to compare certificates they evaluate and to provide advice on what security features they should look for. Such tool will allow staff to better direct anti-fraud efforts through use of a secure internet website.
2 ECVET work group
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