QuestionsQuestions (OTS MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 02)
It is issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 277 (Jan 2004) as amended by EO No. 311 dated 26 April 2004, Chapter XI-2 of the IMO-SOLAS 1974 (including the IMO-ISPS Code), the National Security Program for Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure (NSPSTMI), and OTS Transportation Security Regulation (OTSTSR) No. 011-2007 dated October 1, 2007.
To: (1) equip personnel performing maritime security duties with standard training; (2) provide PSOs and PFSOs skills to conduct security assessments, develop and implement security plans, and prevent circumvention of security measures; and (3) give support staff basic security awareness and knowledge of threats/incidents and patterns.
All maritime security training courses conducted by maritime certified instructors, accredited entities/organizations, individuals, or training centers must follow the OTS accreditation requirement (except STCW). It applies to shipping companies and security-regulated port/port facility operators employing personnel performing maritime security duties and responsibilities.
Only accredited maritime security training courses conducted by any maritime certified instructor, entity/organization, individual, or training center/institution shall be covered and recognized by OTS, except Standard Training, Certification and Watch-Keeping (STCW) courses but required by the ISPS Code.
They are: (1) Company Security Officer Course (CSO); (2) Port Facility Security Officer Course (PFSO); (3) Security Awareness Training for Port Facility Personnel with designated Security Duties; and (4) Security Awareness Training for all Port Facility Personnel.
ITSTS shall administer the theoretical and practical examinations to participants in any training.
A Certificate of Completion is issued to participants who successfully complete the course and received a minimum grade of 80% in both theoretical and practical examinations. A Certificate of Attendance is issued to participants who failed to meet the requirement and received a minimum grade of below 80% in both theoretical and practical examinations.
The CSO is designated by the shipping company to ensure that a ship security assessment is carried out; that a ship security plan is developed and submitted for approval; and thereafter implemented and maintained for liaison with the SSO and PFSO.
The PFSO is designated by the port facility operator responsible for development, implementation, revision, and maintenance of the port facility security plan, and for liaison with the SSO and CSO.
The PSO is designated by the security regulated port operator/manager responsible for development, implementation, revision and maintenance of the security regulated port security plan and for liaison with the CSO, SSO and PFSO.
Accreditation is the process of evaluating the program and contents of the course to determine compliance with academic criteria set by the OTS.
The applicant must submit a letter-request indicating the specific course/s and include: (1) schedule and venue; (2) copy of course syllabus/POI; (3) training materials; (4) roster of certified maritime security instructors and their resumes; and (5) list of participants with: name and designation, certificate of employment/work assignment, and local clearance from PNP/NBI/Municipal/Regional Trial Court.
OTS verifies authenticity through an onsite validation visit to the training institution and/or the background of certified security instructors as needed.
ITSTS.
They must render a training report to OTS within fifteen (15) working days after the closing program of the training course.
Accredited courses/curriculum shall be denied, recalled, or revoked for non-compliance with any of the requirements/continuing requirements.
Upon approval and publication in a newspaper of general circulation.