Philippines to enforce new global training rules for Filipino seafarers by 2026

Philippines to enforce new global training rules for Filipino seafarers by 2026
Liz Lagniton October 25, 2025 https://maritimefairtrade.org/philippines-to-enforce-new-global-training...

The Philippines’ Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will begin implementing new global standards in maritime training on January 1, 2026, requiring all Filipino seafarers to undergo a one-day Updating Training on Basic Training–Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (BT-PSSR) and Revised Basic Training (BT) course.

The directive, issued under MARINA Advisory No. 2025-40, aligns the country’s maritime training framework with amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through Resolution MSC.560 (108).

The updated standards introduce new modules on bullying, harassment, and sexual assault prevention as part of the mandatory seafarer competencies.

MARINA’s administrator Sonia B Malaluan, who signed the advisory, said the policy ensures that Filipino seafarers continue to meet evolving international competency requirements while strengthening protection and professionalism in shipboard environments.

Implementation and coverage

The new training requirement applies to all seafarers seeking to renew or validate their Certificates of Proficiency (COPs) in Basic Training, as well as those applying for new or expired certificates.

MARINA clarified that the Updating Training on BT-PSSR is not a separate course, but rather a component of the existing Basic Training program focusing on personal safety and social responsibility. The one-day, eight-hour course specifically addresses workplace conduct and inclusion awareness, safety practices, and strategies for preventing bullying and harassment at sea.

Seafarers holding valid COPs may continue their service without the new course until January 1, 2026, after which proof of completion will be required before deployment.

The IMO adopted Resolution MSC.560 (108) in May 2024, amending Table A-VI/1-4 of the STCW Code to include new competencies related to workplace conduct and safety. The amendments were deemed accepted globally on July 1, 2025, and will enter into force on January 1, 2026.

According to MARINA, the Philippines, as a signatory to the STCW Convention, is required to implement the new provisions to remain compliant with international maritime standards.

“As a signatory to the said Convention, the Philippines is obligated to comply with and implement the established standards aimed at preventing and addressing bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, in order to ensure the safety of seafarers while on board ships,” explained MARINA in Filipino.

The new modules are designed to ensure that seafarers receive formal instruction on handling harassment and violence at sea — issues that have become central to maritime safety policy in recent years.

Rationale and key provisions

MARINA emphasized that continuous sea service cannot replace formal instruction on the newly introduced competencies. Even experienced seafarers must complete the Updating Training on BT-PSSR, as onboard experience does not cover the specific behavioral and conduct training now required under the amended STCW Code.

The BT-PSSR must be taken once only, unless further amendments to the STCW Code introduce new competencies.

Seafarers required to take the new training include those who have completed Basic Training but do not hold a COP, those with valid COPs issued before November 1, 2025, and those currently onboard who will complete the course after disembarkation. First-time applicants and seafarers with expired certificates must undergo the Revised Basic Training course beginning November 1, 2025.

Distinction from refresher courses

MARINA clarified that the Updating Training on BT-PSSR differs from the Refresher Training required every five years for COP revalidation.

Refresher courses apply to Personal Survival Techniques (PST) and Fire Prevention and Firefighting (FPFF), while the Updating BT-PSSR covers the new competencies introduced by the IMO related to workplace conduct, inclusion, and safety.

“The Updating Training on BT-PSSR shall be taken in addition to the refresher courses prior to the revalidation of the certificate of proficiency,” MARINA clarified.

To renew their COPs beginning in 2026, seafarers must complete both the mandatory refresher courses and the new Updating BT-PSSR course, according to MARINA.

Nationwide training access

MARINA assured seafarers that accredited Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) have sufficient capacity to conduct the training nationwide.

During a live press briefing on October 21, Malaluan said concerns about a possible training backlog were unfounded, noting that seafarers’ employment contracts expire at different times and that the one-day course format allows for daily sessions at multiple centers.

As of October 23, seventeen MTIs had been accredited, with training sites distributed across the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These include COMPASS Training Center, Inc.; Far East Maritime Foundation; PHILCAMSAT; SEATECH Maritime Training and Assessment Center, Inc.; Nautical Options Training Institute of the Philippines, Inc.; New Simulator Center of the Philippines, Inc.; and Excellence and Competency Training Center, Inc. in the NCR.

In Region I, the accredited institutions are Pangasinan Merchant Marine Academy and Far East Maritime Academy and Technological Corp. Meanwhile, in Region IV-A, COMPASS Training Center, Inc. in Silang, Cavite; Far East Maritime Foundation, Inc.; LPU Maritime Training Center–Batangas; and NYK-Fil Maritime E-Training, Inc. have been approved.

SEATECH–Naga in Region V, COMPASS–Iloilo in Region VI, and ZRC Training and Assessment Center Phils., Inc. in Cebu and Sibonga, Region VII, are also authorized to offer the program.

The course will be conducted face-to-face, but MARINA said it may later authorize distance learning delivery once course packages and MTIs receive accreditation under MARINA Circular SC-2021-10.

Regulation of fees

MARINA also announced it would regulate training fees under its new authority granted by the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (Republic Act No. 12021). The law, enacted in September 2024, empowers MARINA to set maximum and minimum allowable training fees to ensure affordability and prevent exploitation.

Malaluan said MARINA will use this authority “for the first time” to establish a fair pricing structure for the Updating Training on BT-PSSR and other STCW-required courses.

MARINA said it will finalize technical guidance and course validation before the full rollout on January 1. From that date onward, seafarers must carry two documents as proof of compliance: a valid COP in Basic Training and a Certificate of Training Completion for the Updating BT-PSSR from a MARINA-accredited MTI.

Seafarers with valid COPs can continue working until their certificates expire, provided they complete the updating course before boarding after January 2026. Those renewing in 2026 and beyond must meet all revalidation requirements, including refresher and updating courses, sea service, and medical fitness.

Strengthening global competitiveness

The Philippines supplies one of the world’s largest seafaring workforces, with an estimated 500,000 Filipino seafarers serving on international vessels annually. Compliance with the STCW Convention is essential for maintaining the country’s standing as a major maritime labor provider.

Under the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, MARINA was granted expanded authority to accredit, regulate, and monitor maritime training and education institutions, including the power to oversee fees and quality standards.

The inclusion of harassment and conduct training reflects the IMO’s broader effort to enhance the human-factor components of maritime safety and ensure safe and respectful working conditions for seafarers worldwide.

MARINA said it will continue accrediting additional MTIs nationwide and issue further guidance before January 2026. The agency also advised seafarers to verify the validity of their certificates and secure training schedules early to avoid deployment delays once the new standards take effect.