Marina revamps five maritime courses for STCW compliance

Marina revamps five maritime courses for STCW compliance
Lorenz S. Marasigan -December 7, 2018 https://businessmirror.com.ph/marina-revamps-five-maritime-courses-for-s...

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is revamping five maritime training course packages to “sustain the production of high quality and competent Filipino seafarers through maritime education and trainings.”

In a news statement, the Marina said the five courses—Security Ship Officer (SSO), Security Awareness Training and Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (SAT & SDSD), Medical First Aid (MeFA), Medical Care (MeCa), and Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSCRB)—are being calibrated to further adhere to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers Convention 1978, as amended.

Marina “comprehensively checked” the courses’ scope, outcomes, entry standards, certificates, intake limitations, assessment, teaching facilities, equipment and teaching aids to “establish uniformity” among the 124 maritime training instructions in the Philippines.

The five training courses are still anchored on International Maritime Organization (IMO) model courses, hence, differences on “appreciation and understanding of the minimum standards of education and trainings.”

Once approved by the research and development division of the Marina’s STCW office and Marina chief Narciso Vingson Jr., the training course packages will then be forwarded to institutions for implementation.

“The agency has committed to uncompromisingly implement and enforce policies and regulations on maritime education, training, and certification for Filipino seafarers to further uphold the quality of the country’s workforce in the international maritime community,” the Marina statement read.