Professional Regulation Commission passers asked to apply for certificate of competency (COC)

PRC passers asked to apply for COC
Genivi Verdejo Aug 04, 2021 https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/08/04/business/maritime/prc-passers-ask...

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has announced that all officer-seafarers assessed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) can apply for a certificate of competency (COC) with the Standard for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Office.

Marina Administrator Vice-Admiral Robert A. Empedrad signed Marina Advisory 2021-42, informing all seafarers, particularly marine deck and marine engineer officers, who obtained and passed in full their theoretical and practical assessment from PRC about their compliance to the Marina requirements.

The seafarers must pass Marina's prescribed practical assessment appropriate to their respective level of competence under the new assessment system.

They should have a valid certificate of proficiency (COP) in basic training (BT), survival craft and rescue boats (SCRB), advanced firefighting (AFF), medical first aid (MEFA), and medical care (MECA). They are also required to have a valid medical certificate in pre-employment medical examination (PEME) format and a valid COC for global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) radio operator (for an officer in charge of a navigational watch (OIC-NW) only).

The seafarers who were PRC passers and holders of Marina COC as a chief mate or second engineer officers with seagoing service in that capacity and are compliant with the respective requirements will be allowed for the issuance of COC for master or COC for the chief engineer.

'In view of the full implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments, seafarers who are PRC passers with Marina COC as chief mate or second engineer officers, or officers-in-charge - Navigational Watch and Engineering Watch but without seagoing service in that capacity, and seafarers who are PRC passers serving on ships engaged in the domestic trade must undergo practical assessment appropriate to their respective levels of competencies under the new system and comply with other requirements,' Marina said.

The seafarer can sign up at MARINA-MISMO to secure a seafarer's registration number (SRN), or if SRN is issued he can proceed and sign in at the MISMO system.

Meanwhile, under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in National Capital Region (NCR), starting 06-20 August 2021, only expedite applications for COC/COP of seafarers will be processed at the Marina Central Office.

The seafarers with confirmed COP/COC-related appointments from 06-20 August 2021 for the issuance, revalidation or replacement of COP, COC within NCR and other similarly situated areas nationwide will be rescheduled starting 23 August 2021 for the former and upon the lifting of ECQ in other areas nationwide for the latter.