Legal basis and adopted STCW framework
- Presidential Decree 474 provides the legal basis for adopting the rules in this circular.
- Republic Act No. 10635 provides the legal basis for adopting the rules in this circular.
- The circular adopts standards in implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, 1978, as amended.
- The circular expressly anchors the design obligation on Regulation 1/6 and Section A-1/6 of the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.
- Regulation 1/6, Section A-1/6 requires Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) to ensure training courses are designed and structured through written programs, methods and media of delivery, procedures, and course materials needed to achieve prescribed standards of competence.
Policy objective and coverage
- The circular prescribes standards for implementing training courses in accordance with the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.
- The circular covers all mandatory training courses required for certification under the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.
- The circular governs how MTIs design, structure, deliver, and assess training courses leading to certification requirements under the STCW regime.
- The circular’s standards apply to training courses that undergo MARINA—STCW Office approval processes.
Core definitions used
- Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) are institutions conducting maritime training courses duly accredited by MARINA.
- Course Plan is the systematic organization of course documents structured based on the IMO Model Course format and contains the parts stated in Annex III.
- Instructional Materials (IMs) are materials that complement and supplement instruction, also referred to as teaching aids, such as PowerPoint Presentations or computer generated slides, exercise sheet, workbooks, pictures, diagrams and the like.
- Assessment Tools are components that include context and conditions of assessment, tasks to be administered to the trainee, an outline of the evidence to be gathered, and evidence criteria used to judge performance quality.
- Course Package includes Course Plan, Instructional Materials, and Assessment Tools.
- Training Course is also called an Approved Training Program relevant to specific competencies as established and approved by the Administration.
Mandatory annexes and course templates
- The circular adopts Annex I, Annex II, Annex III, Annex IV, and Annex V and makes them part of the circular.
- Annex I lists all STCW Mandatory Training Courses subject to the approval process by MARINA—STCW Office.
- Annex II contains the Course Framework and Course Outline, including minimum training requirements that guide MTIs in designing and developing their course package.
- Annex III provides the Course Design Template used for designing and structuring course plans.
- Annex IV provides the Assessment System Manual Template.
- Annex V provides the Certificate Template and controls the certificate format.
Training course design and training hours
- MTIs must ensure their training course designs and structures use written programs, methods and media of delivery, procedures, and course materials necessary to achieve prescribed standards of competence under the STCW Convention (Regulation 1/6, Section A-1/6).
- MTIs must structure course designs in accordance with the template in Annex III.
- MTIs must ensure that instructors and assessors responsible for training and assessment, including those responsible for supervision, are appropriately qualified under qualification standards prescribed by MARINA—STCW Office and under the MTI’s quality policies and procedures.
- MTIs must develop a Course Package for a training course consisting of these minimum components:
- Course Plan, including:
- Part A: Course Framework (as provided by MARINA),
- Part B: Course Outline and Timetable (as provided by MARINA),
- Part C: Course Syllabus,
- Part D: Instructor’s Guide,
- Part E: Course Assessment.
- Instructional Materials.
- Assessment Tools.
- Course Plan, including:
- Training courses must cover the prescribed minimum subject areas/topics in the Course Outline for each course in Annex II.
- Training courses must have the minimum training hours indicated in the Course Outline, excluding time needed for assessment of competence of trainees.
Assessment system requirements
- MTIs must have an assessment system covered by its quality management system.
- The assessment system must cover the prescribed minimum information stipulated in Annex IV.
Instructor, assessor, and supervisor qualifications
- The instructor, assessor, and supervisor must meet qualification standards provided under the rules on the accreditation of instructors, supervisors and assessors of approved training programs.
- MTIs must ensure appropriate qualification compliance for persons responsible for training, assessment, and supervision in accordance with MARINA’s qualification standards and MTI quality policies and procedures.
Facilities, equipment, and simulator standards
- MTIs must comply with the facilities and training equipment requirements indicated for specific training courses in Part A (Course Framework) found in Annex II.
- The equipment prescribed in Annex II is minimum and does not restrict MTIs from using additional equipment to achieve prescribed standards of competence.
- MTIs must ensure that ALL training equipment can satisfy specified training and assessment outcomes, taking into account safety and security of trainees and involved personnel throughout the entire training and assessment period.
- The Administration must ensure that any simulator used for required training or assessment of competence meets the following standards:
- It must be suitable for selected objectives and training tasks.
- It must simulate the operating capabilities of the relevant shipboard equipment to a level of physical realism appropriate to training objectives and must include capabilities, limitations, and possible errors of such equipment.
- It must provide sufficient behavioral realism for trainees to acquire skills appropriate to training objectives.
- It must provide a controlled operating environment capable of producing a variety of conditions, including emergency, hazardous or unusual situations relevant to training objectives.
- It must provide an interface allowing a trainee to interact with the equipment, the simulated environment, and—where appropriate—the instructor.
- It must permit an instructor to control, monitor and record exercises for effective debriefing of trainees.
Completion, competence demonstration, and certificates
- MTIs must ensure that required competences are demonstrated by the trainee prior to issuance of the certificate of training completion.
- The certificate format must follow Annex V as provided in the circular.
Penalties and sanctions for violations
- Any violation of the circular’s provisions and other related MARINA issuances is governed and sanctioned under the IRR for RA 10635 and MARINA Circular No. 2013-05, including any amendment or addendum promulgated by the Administration.
Repeal, separability, and transitory compliance
- Any provision of existing MARINA and STCW circulars, rules, regulations, and other issuances that is contrary to or inconsistent with this circular is deemed repealed and/or superseded accordingly.
- If any provision or part of the circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional by a competent authority, the remaining provisions or parts remain in full force and effect.
Transitional period and immediate effect
- MTIs may continue offering approved existing training courses.
- MTIs must comply with this circular within six (6) months upon its effectivity.