MANILA, PHILIPPINES – As part of the pragmatic and practical approach with regard to the extension of validity of certificates and endorsement, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has recently released it updated guidelines on the revalidation of STCW certificates, as well as extended these certificates of Filipino seafarers amid challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

REVALIDATION OF STCW CERTIFICATES

Through Advisory No. 2020-63, the MARINA stated that application for revalidation of Certificate of Proficiency (COP), whether expired and/or without required refresher training, shall be accepted and processed, provided the applicant seafarer has completed seagoing service performing the duties appropriate to the certificate held, for a period of a least: twelve (12) months in total during the last three (3) years prior to the revalidation; or three (3) months in total during the last six (6) months immediately prior to revalidating.

Aside from that, MARINA included the COP in tanker courses, which shall be accepted for revalidation, even if it is expired, provided the applicant seafarer has completed approved seagoing service, performing the duties appropriate to the tanker certificate held, for a period of at least three (3) months in total during the preceding five (5) years.

On the other hand, revalidation of Certificate of Competency (COC) shall be accepted and processed, whether expired or not, provided the applicant seafarer has completed seagoing service in the capacity appropriate to the COC to be revalidated, for a period of at least: twelve (12) months in total during the preceding five (5) years prior to revalidation; or three (3) months in total during the preceding six (6) months immediately prior to revalidating.

MARINA also reminded that seafarers applying for revalidation of COP and COC under the mentioned advisory shall meet the standards of medical fitness specified in Section A-I/9 of the STCW Code, and a valid medical certificate from the DOH-accredited medical clinic shall be submitted or encoded into the MISMO system.

In addition to these, only seafarers, who are scheduled for deployment within 10 calendar days from the date of the application, are qualified in the said MARINA advisory. Applications shall be filed for expedited processing through the MISMO system, and shall be facilitated only by the authorized Liaison Officer of the concerned licensed manning agency/shipping company. Documentary requirements for expedite application shall be uploaded in the MISMO system, as follows: letter from concerned licensed manning agency duly signed by authorized official requesting for the expedited processing of application of its seafarer; and POEA-approved employment contract.

COP and COC revalidated, pursuant to the said advisory, shall have a validity period of one (1) year from the date of issuance. Whenever the revalidation of any of these certificates is to be carried out, the applicant seafarer shall comply with the requirements for revalidation, and the five (5) year validity date shall be reckoned from the original expiration date of the previous certificate.

Notwithstanding the above guidelines, applications for revalidation of COP and COC of seafarers with complete documentary requirements are continuously accepted and processed through the MISMO system and shall be given a validity period of five (5) years in accordance with the pertinent circulars.

MARINA reminds the public that this advisory shall take effect immediately and shall be valid only until 31 October 2020 unless sooner revoked or a separate advisory was issued extending the validity of this Advisory.

EXTENSION OF THE VALIDITY OF STCW CERTIFICATES

MARINA, through its Advisory 2020-64, stated that all STCW certificates of Filipino seafarers currently serving onboard ships, which are expiring during the period 01 September 2020 to 31 October 2020, shall be extended for a period of six (6) months from the date of expiry without the need to file for an application at the MARINA.

Meanwhile, MARINA directed all concerned manning/crewing agencies and shipping companies to submit to its office the list of their crewmember/s whose validity of STCW certificate/s have been extended pursuant to the said Advisory. An electronic copy of the said information shall be submitted via email at [email protected] following the attached template in Annex A that can be found in the mentioned Advisory uploaded on MARINA website.