Date of Release:

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has recently released guidelines for the conduct of trainings, examination and assessments, and issuance of STCW certificates, as well as for Seafarers Record Book and other manpower development related issuances, in view of the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in NCR Plus (NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal) starting on Monday, 29 March 2021 until 04 April 2021.

STCW-RELATED CERTIFICATES

For the issuance of STCW related certificates, only expedite applications for COC/COP of seafarers will be processed from 29 – 31 March 2021 at the MARINA Central Office. Meanwhile, all other seafarers with confirmed appointments from 29-31 March 2021 for the issuance, revalidation or replacement of COP/COC within NCR Plus shall be rescheduled from 5 April 2021.

However, the filing of applications for the said certificates will only be accepted online via MARINA Integrated Seafarers Management Online (MISMO) System until 31 March 2021, as the said system will undergo preventive maintenance starting 01 April 2021 at 12:01 AM until 05 April 2021 at 12:01 AM as well.

On the other hand, for the examinations, all scheduled theoretical examination and final evaluation of theoretical examination applications, from 29 – 31 March 2021 at the MARINA Central Office, are temporarily suspended. New schedule of theoretical examination and final evaluation will be provided by the Examination and Assessment Division (EAD) of the STCW Office to respective examinees through text message or SMS and e-mail.

MARINA reminds that all those seafarers, who will not be able to take the examination or attend the final evaluation on the given date, may still request to reschedule their transaction to later available date through SMS or email, and not necessarily report personally at the MARINA Office to secure new schedule.

Likewise, all practical assessments including of Assessment Centers (ACs), as well as scheduled face-to-face classes and practical assessments, within the NCR Plus are suspended during the period of ECQ.

SEAFARERS RECORD BOOK AND OTHER MDS RELATED ISSUANCES

For the issuance of Seafarers Record Book and other Manpower Development Service (MDS) related issuances, during the implementation of ECQ, filing of applications before the Manpower Development Service (MDS) through Online Appointment System (OAS) shall still be accepted.

While acceptance of walk-in applicants is still temporarily suspended, only the expedite processing shall be processed. Meanwhile, Seafarers with confirmed appointments affected during the duration of the declared Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) at the Central Office, SM MANILA, POEA and PITX shall be rescheduled to later date without forfeiture of their payment or upon the resumption of operation or lifting of the ECQ.

MARINA, meanwhile, encourages seafarers, who are not affected by ECQ declaration, to process their applications to different MARINA Regional Offices (MROs) nearest to your locations.

Aside from these, the issuance of DCOC, CMP and ID are rescheduled accordingly while the application for processing may be through email at [email protected]

Finally, all scheduled face-to-face classes of all Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs), located in the NCR Plus offering domestic training courses under MARINA Circular 2020-05, are hereby suspended during the ECQ. Affected MTIs are advised to reschedule their training accordingly.