QuestionsQuestions (PRC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 09-07)
The guidelines are issued pursuant to Section 10(c), Article IV of Republic Act No. 8544 (Philippine Merchant Marine Officers Act of 1998), as implemented by Section 29, Article VII of Resolution No. 02-04 of the Board for Marine Deck Officers.
To ensure that merchant marine deck officers are qualified and competent to safely carry out tasks associated with their positions on board seagoing ships, for safety of life and property at sea and protection of the marine environment.
Applicants must be medically fit, particularly with good eyesight and hearing. The medical certificate must be issued by a DOH-accredited clinic/hospital with QSS under STCW Code standards, and is valid for one (1) year from issuance.
If submitted during application, it should not be less than fifteen (15) days prior to its expiry date.
Required training courses must be taken from maritime training centers accredited by the Maritime Training Council (MTC); only courses accredited by the MTC or recognized by the Board are accepted.
Issued STCW a95 certificates shall be entered in the database and website of the Commission pursuant to Regulation I/9 of the Revised STCW Convention.
Yes. It may contain limitations on type of ship, gross tonnage, trading area, and other limitations that the Board/Qualified Assessor may impose after assessment.
A Chief Mate applying for STCW a95 certificates under management level Category A or B must present proof of completion and certification in the appropriate Management Level Course training.
No. Under the circular, a holder of STCW a95 certificates as Chief Mate applying for Master Mariner is no longer required to present proof of completion of the approved training courses for the same level of responsibility.
They do not apply to marine deck officers with seagoing service on: warships/naval auxiliaries or other state-owned vessels in governmental non-commercial service; fishing vessels; pleasure yachts not in commercial trade; and wooden ships of primitive build.
Operational level requires 12 months accumulated approved seagoing service; management level requires 24 months accumulated approved seagoing service. Both are during the preceding five (5) years from the date of application.
It must include type of vessel, rank occupied, vessel’s gross tonnage, vessel’s trading area, and the inclusive dates of sea service.
The application shall be disapproved, and the applicant shall be informed of the disapproval.
Applicants who passed licensure examinations prior to March 2001 for management level and July 2001 for operational level, without practical assessment, and have not been previously issued STCW a95, undergo oral assessment documented in a record. However, those who completed and were certified in Ship Simulator and Bridge Teamwork (SSBT) training do not undergo oral assessment. Applicants who passed after March 2001 (management) or July 2001 (operational) with practical assessment, already holders of STCW a95, and those certified in SSBT, shall not undergo oral assessment.
If the Board/Qualified Assessor finds the applicant duly qualified and has met standards of competence, the application is approved and the STCW a95 certificate is issued, with certificate entries entered into the Commission’s database and website.