A new batch of Merchant Marine Officers is set to bolster the global competitiveness of the maritime industry as they officially took their oaths on 05 December 2024 at the AMOSUP Convention Hall in Intramuros, Manila.

This final oath-taking ceremony of the year for Marine Deck and Engineer Officers, conducted by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) through its Examination and Assessment Division (EAD) under the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Office, marked the official commitment of 70 officers to their professional roles and responsibilities in the maritime sector.

Among the oath-takers were 44 from the Deck Department, comprising nine (9) Master Mariners, one (1) Chief Mate, and 34 Officers-in-Charge of a Navigational Watch (OIC-NW). As for the Engine Department, 26 new officers, including five (5) Chief Engineer Officers and 21 Officers-in-Charge of an Engineering Watch (OIC-EW), also took their oath.

In his welcoming remarks, STCW Office Deputy Executive Director Capt. Vicente C. Navarro highlighted the vital role these new officers will play in the maritime industry, emphasizing their responsibility in ensuring safe operations, environmental protection, and global commerce.

“This new chapter in your career will make you responsible not only for the safe operation of ships but also for the well-being of your colleagues, the protection of the environment, and the safeguarding of global commerce,” Capt. Navarro remarked. “Once you dive into your goal and work on it, it becomes more automatic and easier to sustain.”

Anglo-Eastern Crew Management Philippines, Inc. President C/E Jessie Rex Martin, who served as the keynote speaker during the oath taking, expressed that the ceremony should not only be seen as a celebration but also as a gateway to a world of possibilities. He emphasized that the ocean is vast and brimming with opportunities for those who navigate it with purpose and passion.

During the ceremony, the officers sworn for professional ethics and commitment, pledging to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, safety, and environmental stewardship in their roles as Marine Deck and Engineer Officers.

The oath taking was administered by Capt. Danilo G. Arevalo, Board of Marine Deck Officers (BOMDO) Chairman and Chief Engr. Reynaldo S. Rabino, Board of Marine Engineer Officers (BOMEO) Chairman.

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