QuestionsQuestions (PRC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 99-16)
It cites Section 10(c), Article IV of R.A. No. 8544 (Philippine Merchant Marine Officers Act of 1998), as implemented by Section 28, Article VII of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999, and the STCW Regulations III/1, III/2 and III/3 (1978 STCW Convention as amended in 1995).
To ensure that merchant marine engineer officers are qualified and competent to safely perform their assigned tasks on board seagoing ships, for safety of life and property at sea and protection of the marine environment, by meeting STCW competence standards.
Candidates including: (A) those with seagoing service on ships with main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more commenced with an approved education/training program after 01 Aug 1998; (B) those with seagoing service on ships with propulsion power less than 750 kW; (C) those with service on ships covered by STCW Regulations V/1, V/2, V/3; and (D) those whose STCW ’78 certificates were revalidated for service beyond 31 Jan 2002 under prior memoranda.
Excluded are: warships, naval auxiliaries or other state-owned/operated ships engaged only in governmental non-commercial service; fishing vessels; pleasure yachts not in commercial trade; and wooden ships of primitive build.
The applicant must be a graduate of B.S. Marine Engineering in a CHED accredited/recognized maritime institution, except those who are graduates of other courses but are already registered marine engineer officers.
The applicant must be at least 20 years old and medically fit, particularly with good eyesight and hearing. The required medical certificate must be issued by a DOH-accredited medical clinic or hospital conducting seafarers’ medical exams according to minimum STCW Code standards.
Management level courses must be taken from a government accredited/recognized institution; the appropriate training courses must be taken from a Maritime Training Council-accredited training center.
The applicant may be accepted but the certificate is issued with a limitation “valid only on near coastal voyages.” The certificate can be upgraded if the applicant later complies with the upgrading requirements under Section VIII.
It is valid for five (5) years from date of issuance unless sooner withdrawn, suspended, or revoked.
They must have the appropriate knowledge of the competence being assessed; be qualified in the task; have guidance in assessment methods (including completion of an approved IMO Model Course 3.12); have practical assessment experience; and if using simulators, have practical experience with that simulator under the supervision and satisfaction of an experienced assessor.
These include: (1) Certificate of Sea Service (MEO Form No. 5) signed by Master and Chief Engineer (or, if unsigned, contract of employment and an affidavit stating why); (2) SIRB photocopies (pages 1–2 and pages reflecting sea service; or affidavit of loss plus MARINA certification of SIRB issuance data); and (3) Company Certification of Sea Service stating vessel type, rank, vessel’s kW propulsion power, trading area, and inclusive dates.
It must be issued within the preceding six (6) months from the date of application for issuance of STCW ’95 certificates.
Fourth Engineer Officer: holder of a Certificate of Registration as Fourth Engineer issued under Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, s. 1999. Third Engineer Officer: holder of a Certificate of Registration as Third Engineer issued under Section 28 of the same Board Resolution.
The applicant must hold a Certificate of Registration as Second Engineer Officer issued under Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, s. 1999, and must have completed and been duly certificated with a management level course program based on IMO Course 7.02 from a government accredited/recognized institution.
The applicant must hold a Certificate of Registration as Chief Engineer Officer issued under Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, s. 1999, and must have completed and been duly certificated with a management level course program based on IMO Course 7.02 from a government accredited/recognized institution.
They must have adequate knowledge of safe operational practice for at least three (3) months on board tankers, OR completed approved training courses: (1) Shore-based Fire fighting; and (2) General Tanker Familiarization. A supervised seagoing service alternative may be accepted if the tanker is less than 3000 GT, each voyage duration does not exceed 72 hours, and the number of voyages/loading-discharge operations provide the same level of knowledge and experience.
They must have completed at least six (6) months of approved seagoing service appropriate to their duties on the type of tanker they will serve, AND completed and duly certificated in: Shore-based Fire fighting; General Tanker Familiarization; and specialized training in the specific tanker type (Oil tanker, Chemical tanker, or Liquefied Gas tanker).
Management level for tankers requires at least six (6) months approved seagoing service appropriate to duties on the type of tanker. Operational level for tankers requires at least three (3) months adequate knowledge of safe operational practice on board tankers (or equivalent training), not necessarily the same six-month period.
For Fourth Engineer Officer: must complete at least three (3) months of approved seagoing service appropriate to the certificate held in a supernumerary capacity on ships with propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more. For Third/Second/Chief Engineer Officers: at least three (3) months in supernumerary capacity on such ships, OR service in a lower officer rank than the rank for which the certificate is valid immediately prior to taking up that rank.
Applicants file personally or through an authorized company representative at PRC STCW Certificates Section, secure and fill ACE (Form No. 11), submit ACE and documents to the Application Counter. An evaluator checks completeness/authenticity and validates status in the database; if in order, recommends STCW Regulations for printing, computes fees, and forwards for final evaluation. If questionable documents exist, referral (Form No. 33) may go to the Legal Section. A qualified assessor/Board member then evaluates competence and recommends approval if standards are met.