(NAR) VOL. 18 NO. 1/JANUARY - MARCH 2007

[ MTC RESOLUTION NO. 04, SERIES OF 2006, July 20, 2006 ]

ENSURING CONTINUOUS VALIDITY OF STCW ’95 CERTIFICATES



Whereas, Regulation I/11, paragraph 1 (Revalidation of Certificates) of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended (revised STCW Convention), requires that every master and officer holding a certificate issued or  recognized under any chapter of the Convention other than chapter VI, who is serving at sea or intends to return to sea after a period ashore, shall, in order to continue to qualify for seagoing service, be required at intervals not exceeding five years to meet the standards of medical fitness prescribed under regulation I/9; and establish continued professional competence in accordance with section A-I/11 of the STCW Code.

Whereas, Regulation I/2, paragraph 3 (Certificates and Endorsements) of the revised STCW Convention, requires that the endorsement required by article VI of the Convention to attest the issue of a certificate shall only be issued if all the requirements of the Convention have been complied with.

Whereas, a marine deck officer applying for issuance/revalidation of his STCW Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate (STCW ’95 Certificates) with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) who is qualified under Chapter IV and/or V of the revised STCW Convention, is required to submit the General Operators Certificate (GOC) and the corresponding National Assessment Center (NAC) Certificate, respectively.

Whereas, on the other hand, a marine engineer officer applying for issuance/ revalidation of his STCW ’95 Certificates with PRC who is qualified under Chapter V of the revised STCW Convention, is required to submit the corresponding NAC Certificate.

Whereas, the GOC issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the NAC Certificate issued by the National Assessment Center as requirements for the issuance/revalidation of the STCW ’95 Certificates could have earlier expiry dates than the usual five (5) year validity period of the STCW ’95 Certificates issued by PRC.

Whereas, a scenario in the preceding paragraph wherein the GOC and NAC Certificates have expired prior to the expiry date of the STCW ’95 Certificates of marine officers, without the same having promptly revalidated, should be avoided for purposes of Port State Control inspection and considering that with the issuance/revalidation of the STCW ’95 Certificates of marine officers, PRC certifies that the marine officer is in possession of valid GOC and NAC Certificates up to the expiry date of the STCW ’95 Certificates.

Whereas, Regulation I/14 (Responsibilities of Companies) of the revised STCW Convention requires companies responsible for the assignment of seafarers for service in their ships to ensure that each seafarer assigned to any of its ships hold an appropriate certificate in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

WHEREFORE, the COUNCIL RESOLVES, as it hereby RESOLVED, to direct the NAC, the NTC and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) as follows:

1)
The POEA shall issue the corresponding directive to all shipping companies/manning agencies to have the NAC and GOC Certificates revalidated within (6) months prior to its date of expiry, to ensure their continuous validity, vis-à-vis the STCW ’95 Certificates issued/revalidated by PRC.
2)
The NAC shall allow revalidation of Certificates issued under Regulation V/1 (Tanker vessels), V/2 (ro-ro passenger ships), V/3 (passenger ships other than ro-ro) within (6) months prior to its date of expiry or earlier as may be necessary.
3)
The NTC shall likewise allow revalidation of GOC Certificates issued under Regulation IV (Radiocommunication etc.) within (6) months prior to its date of expiry or earlier as may be necessary.


Adopted: 20 July 2006

Approved:

(SGD.) ROMEO C. LAGMAN
Undersecretary, Department of Labor and Employment
Presiding Chair, Maritime Training Council
   
(SGD.) LEONOR T. ROSERO
Chairperson, Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC)
(SGD.) VICENTE D. SUAZO, JR.
Administrator, Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA)
(SGD.) VICENTE F. ALDANESE, JR.
  Private Sector Representative
(SGD.) MACARTHUR F. CORSINO
Acting Assistant Secretary
Departmnet of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
(SGD.) GREGORIO S. OCA
Private Sector Representative
Associated Marine Officers and
Seamen’s Union of the Philippines
  (AMOSUP)
   
Attested to:
(SGD.) RAMON T. TIONLOC, JR.
Acting Executive Director
Maritime Training Council (MTC)


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