Scope and Application
- Applies to all maritime education and training providers conducting MTC-approved programs.
Implementing Authority
- Executive Director of the MTC Secretariat responsible for implementation.
- Authority to issue circulars, instructions, clarifications, or interpretations.
Definitions
- Defines key terms including 'Council', 'Executive Director', 'Maritime Education and Training Providers', 'Convention', 'Code', 'IMO Model Courses', 'Approved Program', and various certificates.
- Clarifies various procedural and quality terms such as 'Assessment Guidelines', 'Standard of Competence', 'Internal Verifier', and 'External Verifier'.
General Provisions
- Only MTC-accredited programs listed in Annex I may be conducted.
- Instructors, assessors, and supervisors must meet qualifications in Annex II.
- Accredited certificates are valid proof of competence under STCW.
- CHED and TESDA-administered curriculum courses must adhere to these standards.
Application for Accreditation
- Application requirements include Covering Letter, Self-Assessment, qualifications, equipment inventories, quality systems, and fees.
- Documentary attachments include SEC Certificate, proof of premises, safety certificates, insurance affidavit, location and floor plans, medical access, and employment contracts.
- Inspection schedules notified upon compliance; deficiencies must be remedied within 30 days.
- Fees include filing, inspection, re-inspection, and accreditation fees.
Training System Requirements
- Training must strictly follow approved course programs aligned with STCW and IMO model curricula.
- Simulator-based training must comply with Regulation I/12.
- Qualified supervisors, instructors, and assessors mandatory; continuous competence updating required.
- Delivery must align with prescribed syllabi and instructor guides.
- Entry standards, intake limits, classroom size, training equipment, and teaching materials are strictly regulated.
Assessment System
- Providers must develop an assessment manual covering scope, assessment instruments, staff development, equipment use, records, fee payment, monitoring, and audit reports.
- Assessors must meet qualifications; class instructors can act as assessors if qualified and do not assess their own classes.
- Certification issuance tied to passing performance standards and fee payment proof.
- Assessments include written and practical tests, closely following STCW competence tables.
Internal Verifier
- Ensures assessors have necessary tools and follow procedures.
- Oversees listing of passing trainees and takes responsibility for assessment integrity.
- May be Training Director or comparable official.
External Verifier
- Checks assessment activities for compliance.
- Reports compliance or deficiencies to Executive Director.
- Recommends actions for non-compliance.
Training Completion and Record of Assessment Report (TCROA)
- Must be submitted electronically within three days post-assessment.
Simulator-based Training and Assessment
- Must comply with Regulation I/12 on procedures and instructor qualifications.
Field Inspections
- Conducted by an authorized MTC Inspection Team employing document checks, equipment tests, and personnel interviews.
- Non-conformances recorded; qualified officials must be available during inspection.
- Post-inspection meetings held for formal acknowledgment.
Inspection Team Actions
- Inspection reports include maritime training provider's contrary opinions.
- Re-inspections allowed if warranted; denied applications may be refiled after six months.
- Reports guide Accreditation Division recommendations.
Issuance of Certificate of Program Accreditation
- Issued after compliance with application, key training standards, assessment manual, quality systems, and payment of fees.
- Valid for three years unless revoked for cause.
- Provisional Authority may be issued valid for one year if quality system certification is pending, non-extendable.
- Provisional Authority granted only once; failure to secure accreditation after one year requires reapplication with corrective evidence.
Responsibilities of Accredited Maritime Training Providers
- Must abide by MTC directives and conduct training only at approved venues.
- Monitor and correct deficiencies within 30 days.
- Cease training upon MTC order due to deficiencies.
- Permit announced/unannounced MTC inspections.
- Report agreements with maritime schools or training vessel operators.
- Ensure safety, medical fitness, and training duration limits.
- Submit enrollment, completion, incident, audit, and TCROA reports as prescribed.
- Attend MTC seminars/orientations.
Renewal of Accreditation
- Renewal application filed six months before expiration.
- Renewal contingent on maintained compliance, correction of non-conformances, quality system assurance, good standing, and fee payment.
- Expired and unrenewed training programs disallowed.
Assessment of Trainees in Recognized Centers
- Trainees from the past five years in specified safety and medical programs may seek certification assessment at other recognized centers.
Grounds for Suspension or Revocation
- Non-compliance with key training and assessment provisions.
- Subject to administrative investigation and application of penalties.
Non-conformance Categories
- Major non-conformances include curriculum disregard, unqualified personnel, lack of policies, improper enrollment, overcrowding, insufficient classrooms and equipment, absence of assessment policies, and missing quality systems.
- Minor non-conformances are other deficiencies requiring correction.
- Correction deadlines of 30 days enforced; otherwise, accreditation denied.
Quality System Requirements
- Maritime training providers must develop documented quality systems covering policies, management, procedures, quality control, internal reviews, and external evaluations.
- Quality systems must be annually evaluated by recognized external bodies.
- External evaluation reports must be documented and corrective actions timely implemented.
- Quality manual documentation mandatory.
- Components include quality policy, management responsibility, system coverage, control, internal review, and external evaluation.
- External evaluators must be independent recognized quality entities.
Review and Monitoring
- MTC Secretariat to periodically review and monitor standards’ effectiveness and providers’ compliance.
Directory and Registry
- MTC Secretariat maintains updated directories of accredited programs and registry of trained seafarers.
Transitory Provisions
- Existing accreditation certificates remain valid until expiry.
- Subsequent accreditation must follow the revised standards.
- Secretariat to issue implementing guidelines.
Repealing Clause
- All inconsistent prior issuances are superseded, repealed, or amended by this resolution.
Effectivity
- Resolution effective 15 days after publication in official or general circulation media.