Memorandum Circular No. 04
Series of 2002
TO
: All Shipping Principals/Employers, Licensed Manning Agencies
and Seafarers
SUBJECT : Guidelines on the Implementation of the Basic Safety Training and Instruction
and Other Certification Requirements for All Seafarers
The
1978 Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention,
underwent major revision in July 1995. The amendments to the Convention
entered into force on 01 February 1997. In view of the mandatory
provisions of the amended Convention, the following clarificatory
guidelines to Memorandum Circular No. 16, Series of 1997, are hereby
issued on the requirement for basic safety training and instruction and
other certification requirements for all seafarers as a prerequisite,
among others, for shipboard employment:cralaw:red
1.
Seafarers who entered service from 01 February 1997 shall be required
to undergo training for the four (4) basic safety courses as prescribed
under Regulation VI/1 and Section A-VI/1 of the 1978 STCW Convention,
as amended, viz.,:
a. Fire Prevention and Firefighting;
b. Personal Survival Techniques;
c. Elementary First Aid; and,
d. Personal Safety and Social Responsibility;
2.
Seafarers who entered the service before 01 February 1997 and completed
the three courses as indicated in paragraph 1 (a), (b) and (c) above
and have commenced sea service on board vessels of not less than 500 GT
or 750 kW for at least twelve (12) months in the last five (5) years
shall no longer be required to undergo training for the same three
courses. However, seafarers under this category shall be required to
undergo training only for Personal Safety and Social Responsibility to
complete the four (4) mandatory basic safety training and instruction
required under the Convention ;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
3.
Seafarers who are in possession of training certificates on basic
safety and instruction but do not have sea service on board vessels of
not less than 500 GT or 750 kW for at least twelve (12) months in the
last five (5) years shall be required to undergo assessment or
retraining, as may be deemed necessary, in the four (4) basic safety
training and instruction as indicated in paragraph one (1) above;
4.
As prescribed by the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended, seafarers shall
be required to hold valid national certificates issued by the following
agencies prior to commencement of employment on board ocean-going ships:
a. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) - For all Marine
Deck and Engineer Officers ;
b.
Technical Education
and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) - For all ratings
forming part of navigational and engineering watches ;
c. National Telecommunications Commission - For all Marine
Deck Officers with designated radiocommunication functions
and Radio Officers ;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
d. National Assessment Center/Maritime Training Council - For
all seafarers required to hold certificates prescribed under
Chapters V and VI of the Convention.
5. The specific certificates/documentary evidence required to be in
possession of the seafarers while on board foreign-flag vessels, as
prescribed by the minimum provisions of the Convention, are provided in
Annex 1 of this Circular.
6.
Additional training courses for seafarers may only be required if such
training is duly confirmed in writing by the employer/principal as
necessary pursuant to the function which the seafarer is expected to
perform on board the ship.
7. Manning agencies shall be held administratively liable
under the present rules and regulations on overseas employment, as
amended, for any violation of the above guidelines.
8. This Circular shall take effect immediately.
For strict compliance.
ROSALINDA DIMAPILIS BALDOZ
Administrator
June 28, 2002
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