Title
Maritime Security Training Guidelines
Law
Ots Memorandum Circular No. 02
Decision Date
Apr 1, 2014
The Philippine law, DOTC-OTS Memorandum Circular No. 02-14, establishes guidelines for maritime security training courses, including standard training for personnel, security assessments, and basic security awareness training. Accredited courses are recognized by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) and mandatory for security regulated ports/port facility personnel.
maritime security
training courses
guidelines

Legal basis and governing references

  • The circular is issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 277 (Jan 2004) as amended by EO No. 311 dated 26 April 2004.
  • The circular anchors maritime security training requirements on Chapter XI-2 of the IMO-SOLAS 1974.
  • The circular applies IMO-ISPS Code training requirements.
  • The circular relies on The National Security Program for Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure (NSPSTMI).
  • The circular is also based on OTS Transportation Security Regulation (OTSTSR) No.011-2007 dated October 1, 2007.

Purpose and training objectives

  • The circular requires training to equip personnel directly performing maritime security duties and responsibilities with requisite standard training (Objective 1.1).
  • The circular requires training to provide Port Security Officers (PSOs) and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) with skills to:
    • conduct security assessment,
    • develop and implement security plan, and
    • forestal circumvention of security measures (Objective 1.2).
  • The circular requires basic security knowledge training for support staff not directly performing maritime security duties, focusing on security awareness and security threats/incidents and patterns (Objective 1.3).

Coverage and scope of application

  • All maritime security training courses must be conducted by maritime certified instructors, or by an entity/organization, individuals, or training centers/institutions that are accredited by OTS, except STCW Courses.
  • Maritime security training accreditation rules apply to courses that are covered and recognized by OTS, excluding Standard Training, Certification and Watch-Keeping (STCW) courses, but still required by the ISPS Code.
  • The circular applies to shipping companies and security regulated port and port facility operators that employ personnel performing maritime security duties and responsibilities.

Key definitions used

  • “Accreditation” is a process evaluating the program and contents of the course to determine compliance with academic criteria set by OTS.
  • “Administration” refers to the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), also known as the Designated Authority.
  • “Certificate of Completion” is issued to participants who successfully completed the course and received a minimum grade of 80% in both theoretical and practical examination.
  • “Certificate of Attendance” is issued to participants who failed to meet the requirement of the course and received a minimum grade of below 80% in both theoretical and practical examination.
  • “Company Security Officer (CSO)” is the person designated by the shipping company to ensure that:
    • a ship security assessment is carried out,
    • a ship security plan is developed, submitted for approval, and thereafter implemented and maintained for liaison with the SSO and PFSO.
  • “Company Security Officers Course” provides CSOs knowledge and training in some or all areas enumerated in Section 13.1, Part B, ISPS Code and Section 4.1.11 of the PROGRAMME, in accordance with 3.20 of the IMO Model Course and the OTS national Training Standard.
  • “Maritime Security Personnel” are personnel performing maritime security duties and responsibilities at the ship, security regulated port, and port facility.
  • “Port Facility” is a location where the ship/port interface takes place, including harbor, anchorages, waiting berths, and approaches from seaward, as may be appropriate.
  • “Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO)” is the person designated by the port facility operator responsible for:
    • development, implementation, revision, and maintenance of the port facility security plan, and
    • liaison with the SSO and CSO.
  • “Port Facility Security Officers Course” provides PFSOs and PSOs knowledge and training required under Section 18.1, Part B, ISPS code and Section 4.1.11 of the PROGRAMME, in accordance with 3.21 of the IMO Model Course and the OTS National Training Standard.
  • “Port Security Officer (PSO)” is the person designated by the security regulated port operator/manager responsible for:
    • development, implementation, revision, and maintenance of the security regulated port security plan, and
    • liaison with the CSO, SSO and PFSO.
  • “Security Awareness Orientation Course for Personnel Not Directly Performing Security Duties” provides basic knowledge in security awareness to staff and support personnel in the ship, security regulated port, and port facility as prescribed under Section 18.3, Part B, ISPS Code and Section 4.1.11 of the PROGRAMME, in accordance with 3.25 of the Model Course and the OTS National Training Standard.
  • “Security Regulated Port (SRP)” is an area with two or more port facilities intended for use wholly or partly in connection with movement, loading, unloading, maintenance, or provisioning of ships and requiring additional security measures.
  • “Training Course on Port Facility with Security Duties and Responsibilities” provides port security personnel with knowledge required under Section 18.2, Part B, ISPS Code and Section 4.1.11 of the PROGRAMME, in accordance with 3.24 of the IMO Model Course and the OTS National Security Training Standard.

Training guidelines and mandatory course requirements

  • Only accredited maritime security training course/s conducted by maritime certified instructors, entities/organizations, individuals, or training centers/institutions shall be covered and recognized by OTS, excluding STCW courses but required by the ISPS Code.
  • The Administration (OTS) mandates the following maritime training courses to all security regulated port/port facility personnel, whether or not they perform maritime security duties and responsibilities (Section 4.2):
    • Company Security Officer Course (Section 4.2.1),
    • Port facility Security Officer Course (Section 4.2.2),
    • Security Awareness Training for Port Facility Personnel with designated Security Duties (Section 4.2.3),
    • Security Awareness Training for all Port Facility Personnel (Section 4.2.4).
  • The Institute for Transportation and Security Training and Studies (ITSTS) administers the theoretical and practical examinations to participants in any training (Section 4.3).
  • Successful trainees receive either:
    • a Certificate of Completion (if the grade requirements are met), or
    • a Certificate of Attendance (for trainees failing to meet the requirement), based on the minimum grade received in both theoretical and practical examinations (Section 4.4).
  • Accredited courses/curriculum are denied, recalled, or revoked for non-compliance with any requirements or continuing requirements (Section 4.6).

Accreditation application and conduct procedures

  • Training centers/institutions, organizations, individuals, or maritime security instructors must apply for accreditation by filing with OTS a letter-request for the conduct of maritime security training course/s specifying the course/s to be conducted (Section 5.1).
  • The accreditation request must include:
    • Schedule and venue (Section 5.1.1),
    • Copy of course syllabus or program of instruction (Section 5.1.2),
    • Training materials (Section 5.1.3),
    • Roster of certified maritime security instructors and their resume (Section 5.1.4),
    • List of participants with:
      • name and position/designation in the company/organization (Section 5.1.5.1),
      • certificate of employment or work assignment (Section 5.1.5.2),
      • Local Clearance from the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, or Municipal/Regional Trial Court (Section 5.1.5.3).
  • OTS verifies authenticity of submitted documents through an onsite validation visit to the training institution and background certified security instructors as needed (Section 5.2).
  • ITSTS assesses, evaluates, and validates the applicant’s Program of Instruction (POI) and other training materials (Section 5.3).
  • After the Administrator, OTS completes requirements compliance, the Administrator approves the application and issues a formal written notice for information and reference (Section 5.4).
  • After receiving approval, the applicant must immediately and formally inform OTS of:
    • the actual date of the proposed training, and
    • the expected dates of the theoretical and practical examinations (Section 5.5).
  • Training institutions/certified security instructors (individuals or organizations) must render a training report to OTS within fifteen (15) working days after the closing program of the training course (Section 4.5).

Effect, sanctions, and compliance consequences

  • Accreditation recognition for maritime security training is conditioned on compliance with the accreditation and continuing requirements; non-compliance triggers denial, recall, or revocation of accredited courses/curriculum (Section 4.6).

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