Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 2614.)
The Board of Marine Examiners consists of five members: the Insular Collector of Customs as president; the supervising inspector of hulls and boilers; an assistant inspector of hulls; and a master and a chief engineer in the Philippine merchant marine who are not government employees. The last three members are designated by the Secretary of Finance and Justice, and the Insular Collector of Customs appoints a competent secretary.
Any three members of the Board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Applicants must undergo a technical examination and answer correctly at least 70% of the questions. The Board also conducts inquiries into the applicant's character and may require production of ships' journals and log books. Suspended candidates cannot be reexamined until after six months.
An applicant must be at least 25 years old and must provide satisfactory evidence that he has served as a first mate with a certificate for at least one year on a seagoing vessel.
An applicant must be at least 19 years old, have successfully passed the second year of high school or its equivalent, and have shipped or acted as agregado a piloto for at least two years in a seagoing sailing vessel or steamer. Specific provisions allow for some exceptions based on nautical school graduation and other experience.
The applicant must be at least 25 years old and provide satisfactory evidence of having served as a second engineer with a certificate for at least two years on a seagoing steamer.
The fees vary by certification: Master on seagoing vessels - 50 pesos; Master in coastwise trade - 30 pesos; First, second, third mates on seagoing vessels - 30 pesos; First, second, third mates in coastwise trade - 20 pesos; Patron in major coastwise trade - 30 pesos; Patron in minor coastwise trade - 20 pesos; Chief engineer - 50 pesos; Second, third, fourth engineers - 30 pesos.
The vessel shall be fined not more than 100 pesos for each offense but shall not be fined more than once in thirty days for such offenses, provided that the lack of full complement was not due to causes beyond the control of the master, agents, or owners.