Pursuant to Presidential Decree 474, Republic Act (RA) No. 10635 and its Implementing Rules 'and Regulations (IRR) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, 1978, as amended, the following rules and regulations are hereby adopted and promulgated, thus:

I.    OBJECTIVE

To prescribe standards for the implementation of training courses in accordance with the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.

II.   COVERAGE

This Circular shall cover all the mandatory training courses required for certification under the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.
 
III.  DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Maritime  Training  Institutions  (MTls)  refer  to  institutions  conducting maritime training courses which are duly accredited by MARINA.
   
   
2. Course Plan is the systematic organization of course documents designed and structured based on IMO Model Course format which contains the parts as stated in Annex III.
   
   
3. Instructional   Materials   (IMs)   are   materials   which   complement   and supplement instruction. These are also referred to as teaching aids used in the delivery of the course such as PowerPoint Presentations or computer generated slides, exercise sheet, workbooks, pictures, diagrams and the like.
   
   
4. Assessment  Tools  refers  to  the  following  components:  context  and conditions of assessment, tasks to be administered to the trainee, an outline of the evidence to be gathered from the candidate and evidence criteria used to judge the quality of performance.
   
   
5. Course Package includes the following course documents: Course Plan, Instructional Materials and Assessment Tools.
   
   
6. Training Course is also referred to as Approved Training Program relevant to    specific   competencies,   as    established   and    approved   by    the Administration.

IV.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The  following  Annexes  are  hereby  adopted  and  shall  form  part  of  this Circular:
   
   * ANNEX I - List of STCW Mandatory Training Courses
   * ANNEX II - Course Framework and Course Outline
   * ANNEX III - Course Design Template
   * ANNEX IV - Assessment System Manual Template
   * ANNEX V - Certificate Template
   
   
2. Annex I of this Circular list all the mandatory training courses under STCW Convention, 1978, as amended which are subject for approval process by MARINA - STCW Office.
   
   
3. Pursuant to Regulation 1/6, Section A-1/6 of STCW Convention, 1978, as amended, MTls shall ensure that their training courses are designed and structured in accordance with written programs, methods and media of delivery, procedures and course materials as are necessary to achieve the prescribed standards of competence under the said Convention.
   
   The design and structure shall be in accordance with the template provided in Annex III
   
   They shall also ensure that the Instructors and Assessors who are responsible for the training and assessment of seafarers in such training courses, respectively, including those responsible for supervision thereof, are appropriately qualified in accordance with the existing qualification standards  prescribed  by  MARINA  -  STCW  Office  and  the  MTls  quality policies and procedures.
   
   
4. The  course  framework  and  course  outline  contained  under  Annex  II mentioned above provides the minimum training requirements and shall serve as guide for MTls in designing and developing their own course package.

V.   SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

1.    TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

a.   MTI shall develop the course package for the training course which shall consist of the following minimum components as shown in Annex III.

*  Course Plan
* Part A: Course Framework (as provided by MARINA)
* Part B: Course Outline and Timetable (as provided by MARINA)
* Part C: Course Syllabus
* Part D: Instructor ™s Guide
* Part E: Course Assessment
*  Instructional Materials
*  Assessment Tools

b. The training courses shall cover the prescribed minimum subject areas/topics as stated in the Course Outline for each course in Annex II.

c.   The training course shall have the minimum training hours indicated in the Course Outline, excluding the time needed for assessment of competence of trainees.

2.    ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

a.  The MTI shall have an assessment system covered by its quality management system.

b.   The assessment system shall cover the prescribed minimum information as stipulated in Annex IV.

3.    INSTRUCTOR, ASSESSOR AND SUPERVISOR

The Instructor, Assessor and Supervisor shall meet the qualifications standards as provided under rules on the accreditation of instructors, supervisors and assessors of approved training programs.

4.    TRAINING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

a. The facilities and training equipment required in Part A - Course Framework for specific training courses as found in Annex II of this Circular shall be complied by the MTls.

b.   The training equipment prescribed under Annex II are the minimum and does not restrain the MTls to use additional equipment that can help achieve he prescribed standards of competence under the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.
 
c.   MTls shall ensure that ALL training equipment are capable of satisfying the specified training and assessment outcomes considering the safety and security of the trainees and personnel involved during the entire training and assessment period.

d.   The Administration shall ensure that any simulator used for training or assessment of competence required under the Convention shall meet the prescribed standards as follows:

*  be suitable for the selected objectives and training tasks;

*  be capable for the simulating the operating capabilities of shipboard equipment concerned, to a level of physical realism appropriate to training objectives, and include the capabilities, limitation and possible errors for such equipment;

* have sufficient behavioral realism to allow trainee to acquire skills appropriate to the training objectives;

* provide a controlled operating environment, capable of producing a variety of conditions, which may include emergency, hazardous or unusual situation relevant to training objectives;

* provide an interface through which a trainee can interact with the equipment, the simulated environment and, as appropriate, the instructor; and

* permit an instructor to control, monitor and record exercises for the effective debriefing of trainees.

5.   TRAINING COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

a.   MTI shall ensure that the required competences are demonstrated by the trainee prior to the issuance of certificate of training completion.

b.  The format of the certificate shall be in accordance with Annex V as provided under this Circular.

VI.  PENALTY CLAUSE

Any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  Circular  and  other  related  MARINA issuances shall be governed and sanctioned by the provisions of the IRR for RA 10635  and  MARINA  Circular  No.  2013-05  including  any  amendment  or addendum thereof, as may be promulgated by the Administration.

VII. REPEALING CLAUSE

Any provision of existing MARINA and STCW Circulars, rules and regulations, as well as all other issuances which are contrary to or inconsistent with this Circular shall be deemed repealed and/or superseded accordingly.

VIII. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE

Should any provision or part of this Circular be declared by any competent authority to  be  invalid  or  unconstitutional, the  remaining provisions or  parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall continue to be valid and effective.

IX.  TRANSITORY PROVISION
 
The MTls may continue to offer the approved existing training courses. However, they shall comply with this Circular within six (6) months upon its effectivity.

XI.  EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE

This Circular shall take effect immediately on the day of its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Manila, Philippines, 20 April 2018