In view of the need to ascertain the number of seafarers, particularly deck and engineer officers, who would require re-training and/or upgrading of skills for certification purposes under the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended, manning agencies are requested to submit to this Administration the following information regarding seafarers presently in their employment pool:

1. number of seafarers and their ranks,
   
   
2. type of re-training and/or upgrading courses required

The Maritime Training Council of the Department of Labor and Employment will evaluate the data generated from this report in order to provide the necessary standards and infrastructure in coordination-with the maritime training centers accredited to offer re-training and/or upgrading courses.

Attached is a copy of the IMO guidelines to assist manning agencies in the preparation of the report. It will be appreciated if reports could be submitted to the Seabased Employment Accreditation and Processing Center not later than 31 December 1998.

For compliance.

Adopted: 26 Nov. 1998

(SGD.) REYNALDO A. REGALADO
Administrator