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Section 10 (c), Article IV of Republic Act No. 8544, otherwise known as the “PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE OFFICERS ACT OF 1998”, as implemented by Section 28, Article VII of Resolution No. 1, series of 1999, of the Board of Marine Engineer Officers and Regulations III/1, III/2 and III/3 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended in 1995.

II. OBJECTIVE
To ensure that from the point of view of safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment, merchant marine engineer officers are qualified and competent to safely carry out the tasks associated with the performance of the function of their positions on board seagoing ships, having met the standards of competence required under the appropriate Regulations of the Convention.

III. COVERAGE
This memorandum circular shall apply to candidates for certification as marine engineer officers in the management and operational level under the following categories:

A. Those who have served on board seagoing ships powered by main, propulsion machinery of 750 KW propulsion power or more, and who have commenced approved seagoing service, an approved education and approved training program/course AFTER 01 August 1998.

B. Those who have served on board ships powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 750 KW propulsion power.

C. Those with seagoing service on board certain types of seagoing ships covered by Regulations V/I, V/2 and V/3 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.

D. Marine Officers whose STCW ’78 Certificates were revalidated for service beyond 31 January 2002 under the memorandum circulars issued by the Commission.

This memorandum circular however, shall not apply to those who have served on board:

1. Warships, naval auxiliaries or other ships owned or operated by a state and engaged only on governmental non-commercial service;
   
   
2. Fishing vessels;
   
   
3. Pleasure yachts not engaged in commercial trade; or
   
   
4. Wooden ships of primitive built.

IV. DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. Board — shall mean the Board of Marine Engineer Officers.

2. Commission — shall mean the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) created under Presidential Decree No. 223.

3. Marine Engineer Officers Licensure Examination — refers to the written and oral/practical examinations given by the Board to measure the competence of applicants for registration as marine engineer officers on the functions of the levels of responsibility required by law and the STCW Convention for such officer and which must be taken and passed by applicants to be registered and issued the STCW ‘95 Certificates as such marine engineer officer.

4. Certificate of Registration — shall refer to the document issued to a marine engineer officer after passing the required examination, subject to the limitation/s, if any, in the certificate of competency, and upon compliance with all the requirements prescribed by the Board and the Commission.

5. Certificate of Competency — a document issued by the Board to a marine engineer officer certifying that the marine engineer officer has been found qualified to perform the functions of the level of responsibility on board the ship for which such officer has been examined and assessed and which shall attest to the authority of the marine engineer officer to practice the Merchant Marine profession in the capacity specified therein.

6. Endorsement Certificate — refers to the document issued by the Commission attesting the issue of Certificate of Competency to a marine engineer officer or attesting the recognition of a Certificate issued by other Flag States in accordance with and upon compliance with all the relevant requirements of the International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.

7. Management level — refers to the level of responsibility associated with:

(a) serving as Chief Engineer Officer or Second Engineer Officer on board a seagoing ship; and

(b) ensuring that all functions within the designated area of responsibility are properly performed.

8. Operational level — refers to the level of responsibility associated with:

(a) serving as officer-in-charge of an engineering watch; and

(b) maintaining direct control over the performance of all functions within the designated area of responsibility in accordance with proper procedures and under the direction and supervision of a merchant marine engineer officer serving in the management level for that area of responsibility.

9. STCW ’95 Certificate — means the Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate issued on or after 1 February 1997 in accordance with all applicable requirements of the Convention and the STCW Code, or an STCW ’78 certificate duly endorsed after 1 February 1997 in accordance with Regulation I/11.

10. Seagoing Service — shall refer to the actual service on board ship relevant to the issued Certificate or other qualification.

11. Seagoing ship — means a ship other than those which navigate exclusively in inland waters or waters within, or closely adjacent to sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply.

12. STCW Convention — means the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.

V. POLICIES
1. Applicant must be a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering in CHED accredited/recognized maritime institution, EXCEPT those who are graduates of other courses and are already registered Marine Engineer Officers.

2. Applicant must be at least 20 years of age and is medically fit, particularly with good eyesight and hearing. The medical certificate required by these guidelines must be issued by a Department of Health (DOH) accredited medical clinic or hospital conducting physical and medical examination for seafarers in accordance with the minimum standards set in the STCW Code.

3. The management level course and the appropriate training courses required by this memorandum circular must be taken from a government accredited/recognized institution and Maritime Training Council accredited training center, respectively.

4. Applicant with sea service on board ships powered by main propulsion machinery of less than 750 KW propulsion power shall be accepted but shall be issued a certificate with the limitation as “valid only on near coastal voyages”. The Certificate issued shall be upgraded should the applicant present documentary proof that he has complied with Section VIII of this Memorandum Circular.

5. STCW ’95 Certificate issued under this memorandum circular shall be valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance unless sooner withdrawn, suspended or revoked.

6. STCW ’95 Certificates shall be entered in the registry/database pursuant to Regulation I/9 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.

7. To comply with the requirements of Section A-I/6 of the STCW Code, assessors and/or members of the Board responsible for the assessment of competence of marine engineer officers, as required under the Convention shall meet the following:

(a) have an appropriate level of knowledge and understanding of the competence to be assessed;

(b) qualified in the task for which assessment is being made;

(c) have received appropriate guidance in assessment methods and practice in which case the assessor or member of the Board have successfully completed an approved training course in IMO Model Course 3.12;

(d) have gained practical assessment experience; and

(e) if conducting assessment involving the use of simulator, have gained practical assessment experience in the particular type of simulator under the supervision of, and satisfaction of an experienced assessor.

VI. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
1. Certificate of Registration (original and a photocopy)

2. Medical Certificate, using the DOH approved medical form, must be issued within the preceding six (6) months from date of application for issuance of STCW’ 95 Certificates. (original and a photocopy)

3. Approved seagoing service ^* on board seagoing ship/s with main propulsion machinery of 750 KW propulsion power or more^** in the appropriate capacity or level of his certificate during the preceding five (5) years to be supported by the following documents:

(a) Certificate of Sea Service (MEO Form No. 5) signed by the Master and Chief Engineer. (If unsigned by the Master or Chief Engineer, contract of employment and affidavit stating the reason for being unsigned, shall be submitted)

(b) Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) — one photocopy each of pages one and two, and other pages reflecting sea service. (In case of lost SIRB, affidavit of loss. and certification from MARINA that such SIRB had been issued, stating the pertinent data of the issuance, shall be submitted)

(c) Company Certification of Sea Service. The Certification shall include the type of vessel, the rank occupied, vessel’s KW propulsion power, vessel’s trading area and inclusive dates of sea service.

4. Certificates of Training in the appropriate courses required together with one photocopy for each certificate. (if applicable)

5. Documentation Fee

6. Three (3) pieces 2" x 2" pictures in proper uniform, with correct number of bars on shoulder board, name tag and without headgear.

7. Training Record Book

VII. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

CATEGORY A, B AND D
A. Officers in charge of an engineering watch in a manned engine-room or designated duty engineers in a periodically unmanned engine-room on seagoing ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 KW propulsion power or more

OPERATIONAL LEVEL
1. FOURTH ENGINEER OFFICER

1.1 Holder of a Certificate of Registration as Fourth Engineer issued in accordance with Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999, the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. No. 8544.

2. THIRD ENGINEER OFFICER

2.1 Holder of a Certificate of Registration as Third Engineer issued in accordance with Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999, the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. No. 8544.

MANAGEMENT LEVEL
B. Chief Engineer Officer and Second Engineer Officer on seagoing ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 KW propulsion power or more

3. SECOND ENGINEER OFFICER

3.1 Holder of a Certificate of Registration as Second Engineer Officer issued in accordance with Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999, the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. No. 8544.

3.2 Has completed and duly certificated with a management level course program based on IMO Course 7.02 from a government accredited/recognized institution.

4. CHIEF ENGINEER OFFICER

4.1 Holder of a Certificate of Registration as Chief Engineer Officer issued in accordance with Section 28 of Board Resolution No. 1, series of 1999, the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. No. 8544.

4.2 Has completed and duly certificated with a management level course program based on IMO Course 7.02 from a government accredited/recognized institution.

CATEGORY C

Chief Engineer Officer and Second Engineer Officer (Management Level)
Chief Engineer Officers and Second Engineer Officers serving on board certain types of seagoing ships for which special training is required under Regulations V/1, V/2 and V/3 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.

1. For Tankers: Reg. V/I

1.1 He must have completed at least six (6) months approved seagoing service appropriate to their duties on the type of tanker on which to serve, AND completed and duly certificated in the following approved training courses:

1.1.1 Shore-based Fire fighting

1.1.2 General Tanker Familiarization

1.1.3 Specialized Training in the Type of tanker on which to Serve:

1.1.3.1 Oil Tanker

1.1.3.2 Chemical tanker

1.1.3.3 Liquefied Gas Tanker

2. For RO-RO Passenger Ships: Reg. V/2

2.1 Crowd Management

2.2 Crisis Management and Human Behavior

2.3 Familiarization Training on board Ro-ro passenger ship

2.4 Passenger Safety, Cargo Safety and Hull Integrity Training

Third Engineer Officer and Fourth Engineer Officer (Operational Level)
Third Engineer Officers and Fourth Engineer officers serving on board certain types of seagoing ships for which special training is required under Regulations V/1, V/2 and V/3 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.

1. For Tankers: Reg. V/1

1.1 He must have acquired adequate knowledge of safe operational practice for at least three (3) months on board tankers, OR completed and duly certificated in the following approved training courses:

1.1.1 Shore-based Fire fighting

1.1.2 General Tanker Familiarization

1.2 A period of at least one (1) month supervised seagoing service may be accepted provided that:

1.2.1 Tanker is less than 3000 GT;

1.2.2 The duration of each voyage which the tanker is engaged during the period does not exceed 72 hours; and

1.2.3 The operational characteristics of the tanker and the number of voyages and loading and discharging operations completed during the period allow the same level of knowledge and experience required.

2. For RO-RO Passenger Ships: Reg. V/2

2.1 Crowd Management

2.2 Crisis Management and Human Behavior

2.3 Familiarization Training on board Ro-ro passenger ship

VIII. UPGRADING OF CERTIFICATE FROM LESS THAN 750 KW PROPULSION POWER TO 750 KW PROPULSION POWER OR MORE
1. FOURTH ENGINEER OFFICER

1.1 Having completed approved seagoing service appropriate to the certificate held, for a period of not less than three (3) months in a supernumerary capacity on board seagoing ships, with propulsion machinery of 750 KW propulsion power or more.

2. THIRD, SECOND AND CHIEF ENGINEER OFFICER

2.1 Having completed approved seagoing service appropriate to the certificate held, for a period of not less than three (3) months in a supernumerary capacity on board seagoing ships with propulsion machinery of 750 KW propulsion power or more; OR In a lower officer rank than that for which the certificate held is valid immediately prior to taking up the rank for which it is valid.

IX. PROCEDURE
1. Application

.1 Application for issuance of STCW ’95 Certificates may be filed personally, or on behalf of the marine engineer officer, by the authorized representative of the company duly recognized by the Commission at the STCW Certificates Section (Third floor, of the three-storey building infront of the Annex Building) of the PRC Central Office.

.2 At the STCW Certificates Section, applicant secures from the Information Counter the Application for Certificate and Endorsement [ACE (Form No. 11)] and fills up the same.

.3 The applicant submits his duly accomplished ACE and the documentary requirements to the Application Counter.

2. Evaluation of Application

.1 The Evaluator checks and verifies the application and documentary requirements as to completeness and authenticity of submitted documents and validate in the database the status of the applicant’s certificate.

.1.1 If found in order, Evaluator affixes his signature, recommends the appropriate Regulation/s to be printed on the 1995 STCW Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate, makes the assessment of the required fees to be paid, logs the applicant’s name, license no. in the application logbook and forwards the documents to the Qualified Assessor or a member of the Board who makes the final evaluation and assessment.

.1.2 If found not in order, the documents submitted will be returned to the Applicant informing him of such disapproval.

.1.3 If there are questionable documents, requiring legal action, prepares Referral Form (Form No. 33) and forwards the same together with the ACE and documentary requirements to the Legal Section of the International Affairs Division for appropriate action and instructs the applicant to proceed to the said office.

3. Assessment of Competence

.1 The Qualified Assessor or a member of the Board shall evaluate and assess the applicant and the documentary evidence submitted. The applicant shall be assessed as having achieved the required standards of competence defined in the appropriate table in the STCW Code if the assessor is satisfied that the standards have been fully met.

.1.1 If the applicant is found duly qualified and has met the standards/requirements of competence and is competent to serve in the capacity specified in the application, the qualified assessor or the member of the Board shall recommend the approval of the application to the Board and affixes his signature thereon.

.1.2 If Qualified Assessor or member of the Board disapproves the application, the documents submitted will be returned to the applicant informing him of such disapproval.

4. Issue of STCW ’95 Certificates

.1 The candidate who qualifies to the standards of competence defined in the appropriate table in the STCW Code shall be issued the STCW ’95 Certificate of Competency and Endorsement Certificate in accordance with Section 28 of Resolution No. 01, s - 1999.

.2 The certificates shall be issued in the form prescribed by the Board and entered in the registry/database of the Commission.

.3 Limitation/s, if any, shall be indicated on the appropriate space in the certificate.

X. EFFECTIVITY
This Memorandum Circular shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 31 Aug. 1999

(SGD.) HERMOGENES P. POBRE
Commission Chairman

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^* One (1) year approved seagoing service for Fourth, Third and Second Engineer Officers applicants; Two (2) years seagoing service for Chief Engineer Officer applicant.

^** Applicant with approved sea service on board ships with main propulsion machinery of less than 750 KW propulsion power shall be accepted but shall be issued a certificate with limitation as “valid only on near coastal voyages”.