Republic of the Philippines
Department of Transportation and Communications
MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY
MARINA CIRCULAR NO. 2013-08
Series of 2013TO:ALL SEAFARERS IN THE RATINGS CATEGORY AND ALLMARITIME TRAINING INSTITUTIONS (MTIs), MANNING
AGENCIES, SHIPPING COMPANIES, SEAFARERS’ASSOCIATIONS/ ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL OTHERSCONCERNEDSUBJECT:RULES IN THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OFPROFICIENCY (COPs) FOR SEAFARERS WHO ARE
HOLDERS OF TESDA CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY(COCs)IN
ACCORDANCEWITHTHE1978
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE STANDARDS OFTRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING, ASAMENDED

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 75 issued on 30 April 2012 and its Implementing
Rules and Regulations, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between theDepartment of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) through the Maritime
Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Technical Education Skills and Development
Authority (TESDA) signed on 18 March 2013, the following rules are hereby
adopted:I. OBJECTIVES
1. To provide the rules in the issuance of COPs for seafarers who are holdersof valid TESDA COCs to ensure that they are properly certificated inaccordance with the Convention; and,2. To provide rules in the issuance of COPs for Able Seafarer Deck and AbleSeafarer Engine under Regulations II/5 (para 6) and III/5 (para 4).
II. COVERAGE
1. Deck Ratings who are holders of valid TESDA COCs;
2. Engine Ratings who are holders of valid TESDA COCs; and,3. Holders of valid TESDA COCs or MARINA COPs issued under this Circular
who are qualified to apply as AB Seafarer Deck or AB Seafarer Engine underthe Convention.
1III. DEFINITION OF TERMS
For purposes of this Circular, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
1. Able Seafarer Deck refers to a seafarer serving in the support level in thedeck department on board seagoing ship of 500 gross tons or more(Regulation II/5).
2. Able Seafarer Engine refers to a seafarer serving in the support level in theengine department on board seagoing ship with engine propulsion power of750kW or more (Regulation III/5.)
3. Approved seagoing service refers to the service of a seafarer on board
ship of 500 GT or more (for deck ratings) or on board ship with engine
propulsion power of 750 kW or more (for engine ratings), duly recorded in
the SIRB and certified by the manning agency or shipping company detailingthe seafarer’s position/designation and the period covered.
4. Approved training refers to a training program/ course required under theConvention and accredited by the MARINA. .
5. Certificate of Proficiency (COP) refers to a certificate issued to a seafarerby the MARINA, attesting to the compliance with the relevant requirementsof training, competencies and seagoing service prescribed in theConvention.
6. Convention refers to the International Convention on Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978, as amended.
7. Portfolio Assessment refers to the evaluation of documents submitted insupport of the seafarer’s application for the issuance of COP for ratings.
8. Rating refers to a member of the ship’s crew other than the Master or anofficer.
9. Seagoing Ship refers to a ship other than those which navigate exclusively
in inland waters or in waters within, or closely adjacent to, sheltered waters
or areas where port regulations apply.
10. Seafarers Identification and Record Book (SIRB) refers to a documentissued by the MARINA under MARINA Circular No. 2009-10, and itsamendment, to qualified merchant marine officers and ratings, fishermen andoffshore workers to provide the holder with identity papers and record of theirsea service.
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11.TESDA COC refers to the Certificate of Competency issued by the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) attesting to thecompliance with the relevant requirements of training, competencies andseagoing service prescribed in the 1995 STCW Convention.
IV.

GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. The MARINA shall issue the COP to seafarers in the ratings category
pursuant to Regulations II/4, III/4, II/5, and III/5 of the Convention.
2. All COCs issued by TESDA under Regulations II/4 or III/4 of the 1995
STCW Convention shall be recognized by MARINA until its expiration but
not beyond 31 December 2016.
3. Seafarers whose TESDA-issued COCs which will expire on or before 31
December 2016 shall apply for the issuance of MARINA COP without any
validity under Regulations II/4 or III/4 of the Convention subject to portfolio
assessment.
4. Seafarers who are holders of valid TESDA COCs under Regulations II/4and III/4 may apply for the issuance of MARINA COP under Regulations
II/5 and III/5 of the Convention; provided that they comply with thequalification and documentary requirements under item VI.1 of thisCircular. This transition policy shall be effective until 31 December 2016.

V.

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS
1. Applications for the issuance of COP under this Circular may be filed with
the STCW Office, MARINA Central Office or with any of the MARINA
Regional Offices (MROs).
2. Applications for issuance of COP under this Circular may be filed by theseafarer or by Liaison Officer/s (LO/s) as defined under the relevant
MARINA Circular.
3. Applications for issuance of COP for seafarers on board ships may beallowed in cases of promotion on board or lost/damaged certificates orcorrection of entry/ies in the certificate.

3VI.

QUALIFICATION AND DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF COP
The following qualification and documentary requirements for the issuance ofCOPs must be complied with:
1. For Deck and Engine Ratings with valid TESDA COCs.
Regulations

Sea ServiceRequirements
Approvedseagoingservice
asOrdinary
Seaman or Able Bodied
Seaman or Boatswain or
Pumpman for a minimum
period of twelve (12)months within the last
five (5) years on board
ship of 500 GT or moreprior to 01 July 2013.

Documentary
Requirements
 Screening/Application
Form TESDA COC for Deck
Watchkeeping Certification from themanning agency orshipping company
attesting to the seagoing
service (original orcertified true copy) SIRB Medical Fitness ineyesight, color vision andhearing

Regulation II/4

Mandatory Minimum
Requirementsfor
Certification of Ratings
Forming Part of a
Navigational Watch

Regulation
III/4

Mandatory MinimumRequirementsfor
Certification of Ratings
Forming Part ofa
Watch in a Manned
Engine-Roomor
Designated to Perform
Duties in a Periodically
Unmanned
engineRoomApproved
seagoing
service as Wiper or Oiler
or
Motormanor
Electricianor
Fitter/WelderorMechanic, for a minimum
period of twelve (12)months within the last
five (5) years on board ashipwith propulsion
power of750 kW or
more prior to 01 July
2013.

 Screening/Application
Form TESDA COC for Engine
Watchkeeping Certification from themanning agency orshipping company.
attesting to the seagoing
service (original orcertified true copy) SIRB Medical Fitness ineyesight, color vision andhearing

Regulation II/5

Mandatory minimum
requirementsfor
certification of ratings
as able seafarer deck

Approved
seagoing
service as Able Bodied
Seaman or Boatswain or
Pumpman for a minimum
period of twelve (12) Screening/ApplicationForm TESDA COC for Deckwatchkeeping Training Certificate for4

Regulation
III/5

Mandatory minimum
requirements forcertification of ratings
as able seafarerengine in a mannedengine-room ordesignated to perform
duties in a periodicallyunmanned engineroom

months within the lastfive (5) years on board aship with 500 GT or moreprior to 01 July 2013.

PSCRB
 Certification frommanning agency orshipping company
attesting to the seagoing
service (original orcertified true copy) SIRB Medical Fitness ineyesight, color vision andhearing

Approved seagoing
service as Oiler,
Motorman or Electrician
or Fitter/Welder or
Motorman for a minimum
period of twelve (12)months within the last five(5) years on board ship ofwith propulsion power of
750kW or more prior to01 July 2013.

 Screening/ApplicationForm
 TESDA COC for Deckwatchkeeping Certification frommanning agency orshipping company
attesting to the seagoing
service (original orcertified true copy) SIRB Medical Fitness ineyesight, color vision andhearing

2. For expedite applications :a. Letter request from the shipping company/manning agency signed by atleast the Chief Operating Officer or Operations Manager of thecompany/agency;
b. Electronic ticket to prove that the seafarer is scheduled to leave or join
the vessel within five (5) working days from date of filing of theapplication;c. Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) from the Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration (POEA); andd. Contract of Employment from the POEA;

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3. For applications of seafarers on board ships :a. Letter request from the shipping company/manning agency signed byat least the Chief Operating Officer or Operations Manager of thecompany/agency;
b. Certification from the shipping company/manning agency as to thepromotion of seafarer/s on board; orc. Duly notarized Affidavit of Loss in case of lost COP.
VII.

SCHEDULE OF FEES
1. Issuance of COP
Regular Processing
Expedite Processing
2. Replacement of Lost/
Damaged COP-P200.00
400.00-200.00

3. Correction of entry/ies in the COP VIII.

200.00ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES
1. Any shipping company or manning agency shall be liable for false
statement or misrepresentation, fraudulent or spurious or tampered
licenses, documents, certificates submitted, or where said shipping
company or manning agency or any of its MARINA accredited LO/s
have consented or participated in the tampering/misrepresentation orin securing the questioned licenses, documents, and/or certificatesfrom any source:
1.1 First Violation-P25, 000.00

1.2 Second Violation-P50, 000.00, without prejudice tothe suspension for one (1) month of
the accreditation of the shipping
company or manning agency.

1.3 Third & Succeeding Violations-P100,000.00, without prejudice tothe cancellation and / or revocationof the accreditation of the shipping
company or manning agency.

62. Any seafarer who shall submit to the MARINA any fraudulent or
tampered or irregularly issued licenses, certificates or documents shallbe subject to a penalty of P10,000.00 and disqualification fromapplying for COP for at least three (3) months.
The above sanctions and penalties are without prejudice to any criminal
liability under the Revised Penal Code.
IX.

REPEALING CLAUSE
Any rules or regulations which are inconsistent with this Circular arehereby repealed.

X.

EFFECTIVITY
This Circular shall take effect immediately upon its publication once in a
newspaper of general circulation.
Manila, Philippines, 30 August 2013.

BY AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD:(SGD) MAXIMO Q MEJIA JR, PhD
Administrator
SECRETARY’S CERTIFICATEThis is to certify that MARINA Circular No. 2013-08 was approved by theMARINA Board of Directors pursuant to Board Resolution No. 2013-01
dated 30 August 2013.

(SGD)ATTY. VIRGILIO B. CALAG
Acting Corporate Board Secretary
Published at Manila Times on 03 September 20137