PRC Guidelines on STCW '95 Marine Engineer Certs

Purpose and safety policy objective

The guidelines ensure that merchant marine engineer officers are qualified and competent to perform tasks tied to their positions on board seagoing ships.
The qualification standards are aimed at safety of life and property at sea and protection of the marine environment.
Certification must reflect meeting the competence standards required under the appropriate STCW Regulations.

Coverage and who must comply

The circular applies to candidates for certification as marine engineer officers in the management and operational level for the categories listed below (Section III).
It covers:
- Candidates who have served on seagoing ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 KW or more, with approved seagoing service and approved education/training after 01 August 1998.
- Candidates who have served on seagoing ships powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 750 KW.
- Candidates with seagoing service on ships covered by Regulations V/I, V/2, and V/3 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.
- Marine officers whose STCW a78 Certificates were revalidated for service beyond 31 January 2002 under PRC memoranda issued by the Commission.
It does not cover service on:
- Warships, naval auxiliaries, or other state-owned or operated ships engaged only on governmental non-commercial service.
- Fishing vessels.
- Pleasure yachts not engaged in commercial trade.
- Wooden ships of primitive built.

Definitions and key terms used

The Board means the Board of Marine Engineer Officers (Section IV).
The Commission means the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) created under Presidential Decree No. 223.
Marine Engineer Officers Licensure Examination refers to the written and oral/practical examinations administered by the Board to assess competence for functions at the relevant levels of responsibility required by law and the STCW Convention.
Certificate of Registration is issued after passing the examination, subject to limitations in the certificate of competency, and after complying with Board and Commission requirements.
Certificate of Competency is issued by the Board certifying qualification to perform required onboard functions at the examined level of responsibility and attesting the authority to practice the merchant marine profession in the specified capacity.
Endorsement Certificate is issued by the Commission to attest issuance/endorsement of a Certificate of Competency to a marine engineer officer or recognition of a certificate issued by other Flag States.
Management level refers to:
- Serving as Chief Engineer Officer or Second Engineer Officer; and
- Ensuring all functions within the designated area of responsibility are properly performed.
Operational level refers to:
- Serving as officer-in-charge of an engineering watch; and
- Maintaining direct control over performance of all functions within the designated area under proper procedures and under the direction and supervision of a management-level marine engineer officer.
STCW a95 Certificate means the Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate issued on or after 1 February 1997, or an STCW a78 certificate duly endorsed after 1 February 1997 under Regulation I/11.
Seagoing Service means actual service on board ship relevant to the issued certificate or qualification.
Seagoing ship means a ship other than those navigating exclusively in inland waters or in sheltered waters/areas where port regulations apply.
STCW Convention means the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.

Policies, qualifications, and competence standards

Applicants must be graduates of Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering in a CHED accredited/recognized maritime institution, except those who are graduates of other courses and are already registered marine engineer officers (Section V(1)).
Applicants must be at least 20 years of age and medically fit, particularly with good eyesight and hearing (Section V(2)).
The required medical certificate must be issued by a DOH accredited medical clinic or hospital conducting examinations for seafarers in accordance with the minimum standards set in the STCW Code (Section V(2)).
Management-level and training courses required by the circular must come from:
- A government accredited/recognized institution (management level course); and
- A Maritime Training Council accredited training center (appropriate training courses) (Section V(3)).
For candidates with seagoing service on ships powered by main propulsion machinery less than 750 KW, certification is issued with a limitation valid only on “near coastal voyages”, and the certificate must be upgraded upon documentary compliance with Section VIII (Section V(4)).
STCW a95 Certificates issued under these guidelines are valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance unless sooner withdrawn, suspended, or revoked (Section V(5)).
STCW a95 Certificates must be entered in the registry/database under Regulation I/9 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended (Section V(6)).
Assessors and/or Board members responsible for competence assessment must:
- Have appropriate knowledge of the competence being assessed.
- Be qualified in the task for which assessment is made.
- Have received guidance in assessment methods and practice, including completion of an approved training course in IMO Model Course 3.12.
- Have practical assessment experience.
- If using a simulator, have practical assessment experience for the simulator type under supervision of, and to the satisfaction of, an experienced assessor (Section V(7)).

Documentary requirements and required records

The following documentary requirements apply for issuance (Section VI):
- Certificate of Registration (original and photocopy).
- Medical Certificate using the DOH approved medical form, issued within the preceding six (6) months from the application date (original and photocopy).
- Approved seagoing service (for ships with main propulsion machinery 750 KW or more) during the preceding five (5) years, supported by documents listed below:
  - Certificate of Sea Service (MEO Form No. 5) signed by the Master and Chief Engineer; if unsigned by either, submit the contract of employment and an affidavit stating the reason.
  - Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB): a photocopy each of pages one and two, and other pages reflecting sea service; if SIRB is lost, submit an affidavit of loss and certification from MARINA that the SIRB was issued, including pertinent issuance data.
  - Company Certification of Sea Service including: type of vessel, rank occupied, vessel’s KW propulsion power, vessel’s trading area, and inclusive dates of sea service.
- Certificates of training in appropriate courses, together with one photocopy per certificate (if applicable).
- A Documentation Fee (as required by the processing requirements).
- Three (3) pieces 2" x 2" pictures in proper uniform, with correct number of bars on shoulder board, name tag, and without headgear.
- Training Record Book.

Qualification requirements by category and level

Category A, B and D cover officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery 750 KW or more, and define eligibility for operational and management levels (Section VII).
Operational level (Category A):
- Fourth Engineer Officer requires a Certificate of Registration as Fourth Engineer issued under Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999 and the implementing rules of R.A. No. 8544.
- Third Engineer Officer requires a Certificate of Registration as Third Engineer issued under Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999 and its implementing rules.
Management level (Category B):
- Second Engineer Officer requires:
  - A Certificate of Registration as Second Engineer Officer issued under Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999; and
  - Completion and certification of a management level course program based on IMO Course 7.02 from a government accredited/recognized institution.
- Chief Engineer Officer requires:
  - A Certificate of Registration as Chief Engineer Officer issued under Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999; and
  - Completion and certification of a management level course program based on IMO Course 7.02 from a government accredited/recognized institution.
Category C covers Chief Engineer Officers and Second Engineer Officers (management level) serving on ship types requiring special training under STCW Regulations V/1, V/2, and V/3:
- Tankers (Reg. V/I) require:
  - At least six (6) months approved seagoing service appropriate to duties on the type of tanker; and
  - Completion and certification in:
    - Shore-based Fire fighting
    - General Tanker Familiarization
    - Specialized training for the tanker type:
      - Oil Tanker
      - Chemical tanker
      - Liquefied Gas Tanker
- RO-RO Passenger Ships (Reg. V/2) require completion and certification in:
  - Crowd Management
  - Crisis Management and Human Behavior
  - Familiarization Training on board Ro-ro passenger ship
  - Passenger Safety, Cargo Safety and Hull Integrity Training
Operational level qualifications under Category C cover Third Engineer Officers and Fourth Engineer Officers serving on ship types requiring special training under Regulations V/1, V/2, and V/3:
- Tankers (Reg. V/1) require either:
  - Adequate knowledge of safe operational practice for at least three (3) months on board tankers; OR
  - Completion and certification in:
    - Shore-based Fire fighting
    - General Tanker Familiarization
  - A supervised seagoing service of at least one (1) month may be accepted if:
    - The tanker is less than 3000 GT
    - The duration of each voyage during the period does not exceed 72 hours
    - The operational characteristics, number of voyages, and loading/discharging operations provide the level of knowledge and experience required
- RO-RO Passenger Ships (Reg. V/2) require completion and certification in:
  - Crowd Management
  - Crisis Management and Human Behavior
  - Familiarization Training on board Ro-ro passenger ship

Upgrading limitation for < 750 KW service

Candidates whose certificates were issued with a near coastal voyages limitation based on service on ships powered by less than 750 KW may upgrade upon meeting Section VIII requirements (Section VIII).
Fourth Engineer Officer upgrades require completion of approved seagoing service appropriate to the certificate held for at least three (3) months in a supernumerary capacity on board seagoing ships with propulsion machinery of 750 KW or more.
Third, Second and Chief Engineer Officer upgrades require completion of approved seagoing service appropriate to the certificate held for at least three (3) months in a supernumerary capacity on board seagoing ships with propulsion machinery of 750 KW or more; OR service in a lower officer rank than that for which the certificate is valid immediately prior to taking up the rank for which it is valid (Section VIII(2.1)).

Application, evaluation, and issuance procedure

Applications for issuance of STCW a95 Certificates may be filed:
- Personally; or
- On behalf of the marine engineer officer by the company’s authorized representative duly recognized by the Commission at the STCW Certificates Section (Third floor, three-storey building in front of the Annex Building) of the PRC Central Office (Section IX(1.1)).
At the STCW Certificates Section, the applicant obtains the Application for Certificate and Endorsement (ACE) [Form No. 11] and fills it out (Section IX(1.2)).
The applicant submits the duly accomplished ACE and documentary requirements to the Application Counter (Section IX(1.3)).
Evaluation of application and documents is performed by an Evaluator who:
- Checks and verifies completeness and authenticity of submitted documents and validates the applicant’s certificate status in the database (Section IX(2.1)).
- If found in order, signs, recommends the appropriate regulation(s) to be printed on the 1995 STCW Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate, determines required fees, logs the applicant’s name and license number in the application logbook, and forwards the documents to the Qualified Assessor or a Board member (Section IX(2.1.1)).
- If not in order, returns documents to the applicant with notice of disapproval (Section IX(2.1.2)).
- If questionable documents exist requiring legal action, prepares a Referral Form (Form No. 33) and forwards it with the ACE and documentary requirements to the Legal Section of the International Affairs Division, and instructs the applicant to proceed to that office (Section IX(2.1.3)).
Assessment of competence is conducted by a Qualified Assessor or a Board member who:
- Evaluates and assesses the applicant and documentary evidence (Section IX(3.1)).
- Assesses the standards of competence in the appropriate STCW Code table as achieved when satisfied the standards are fully met (Section IX(3.1)).
- If qualified and standards are met, recommends approval to the Board and affixes signature (Section IX(3.1.1)).
- If disapproved, returns documents with notice of disapproval (Section IX(3.1.2)).
Issuance of certificates requires that:
- A candidate meeting required standards of competence shall be issued the STCW a95 Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate in accordance with Section 28 of Resolution No. 01, s-1999 (Section IX(4.1)).
- Certificates shall be issued in the form prescribed by the Board and entered in the Commission registry/database (Section IX(4.2)).
- Any limitation(s) must be indicated on the appropriate space in the certificate (Section IX(4.3)).

Effectivity and date of adoption

The circular is adopted on August 31, 1999.
It takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation (Section X).
STCW a95 Certificates are issued with limitations when applicable, including the near coastal voyages limitation for applicants from ships powered by less than 750 KW propulsion power (Section V(4) and Section IX(4.3)).