Republic of the Philippines Department oflabor and Emplolment Maritime Training Council Memorandum Circular No. 0l Series of2008 To Subject Date All Concerned Implementing guidelin s for the issuance of Certilicate of Proliciency to Ship Security Oflicer (SSO) as specified under new Regulation VI/5 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended, Februarv 04. 2008 Pu$uant to Resolution No._11i, s-2007 (Issuance of Certificates of Proficiency to Ship Secudty Officers (SSO) under Regulation vi/5 of the STCW Convention, as amended) the following guidelines are hereby prescribed. Section l. D Iinition ofterms. (I) Con'rention rcferc to the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended. (2) STCII. Code means the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code as adopted by the 1995 Conference. (3) Certifrcate of Profciency refers a the certificate issued to qualifr seafarers under this Resolution in accordance with Chapters VI of the Convention. (4) ISPS Code means the Intemational Ship and Port Facility Secu ty (ISPS) Code adopted on 12 December 2002 by Resolution 2 ofthe Conference of Contracting Govemments to the Intemational Convention for the Safety of Life a1 Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as maybe amended by the organization. (5) Ship Security OlJicer mears the pe$on on board the ship, accountable to the Master, designated by the company as responsible for the security of the ship including implementation and maintenance of the ship secwity plan and liaison with the company secu ty officer and port security officar. 6rts F oor POEA Bui ding, Orligas Ave. cor EDSA, Mandaluyong C ty, Phit ppines 1501 Tel. Nos. (632) 727-5716/725-1323 Teletax No. (632) 725-1266 emat: info@nra.gouph
(6) Accredited SSO Traihing Prc'riders refer to providers recognized to conduct SSO couse including those accredited by the Maritime Industry Authoriry (MARINA). (7) New Entrant refers to seafarers other than the existing Ship Secu ty OfTicer (SSO) who maybe designated as SSO for service on board in compliance to Regulation VI/5 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended. (8) Existing Ship Security OJJicet rcfels to a seafarer who is prcsently on board serving as a Ship Security Officer or a seafarer who has been previously designated SSO and who meets the qualifications specified in paragraph 5 ofsection A-VI/5 ofthe STCW Code. Section 2, Issuance of Certificate of Proficiency for Ship Security Officer. (vt5) A. New Entrarts Seafarers designated as Ship Security Officers as specified under Regulation VI/5 of the STCW Convention may be issued Certificates of Proficiency for Ship Security Officers provided the following are met: 1. approved seagoing service ofnot less than 12 months or appropriate seagoing service and with knowledge of ship operation; 2. standard of competence for certification of proficiency as Ship Security Officer, set out in Section A-VI/5, paragraph l-4 of the STCW Code or have completed an approved SSO taining couse from a duly accredited training provider. B. Existins Ship Securiw Officer Seafarers who have completed taining in Ship Security Officer from a duly accredited provider and have served on board for a total period of at least 6 months during the preceding 3 years as Ship Security Officet are qualified for the issuance of a Certificale of Proficiency under this Resolution. Seafaren who are cunently on board ship serving as designated SSO and who have completed an approved training in SSO fiom accredited taining providers are also qualified to be issued Cedificates of Proficiency as SSOs.
section 3. Qualification of Assessors. Assessors conducting assessment of competence of candidate for the issuance of certificates of proficiency as Ship Security Officer under Regulation VI/5 shall meet the following qualifications: l A licensed Marine Officer at the Management Level; 2. Completed approved training in IMO Model Course 3.12 (Assessment, Examination and Certification of Seafarer); 3. Completed approved training course in SSO cowse or performed duties as SSO on board ship for a period of at least six months in total during the preceding 3 years; 4. Have gained practical assessment experience. Section 4. Application. 1. The application for the issue of Certificate of Proficiency for Ship Security Officer shall emanate ftom the shipping company, manning agency, seafarer unior/ organizatior/ association. 2. Applications shall be accepted and processed at NAC by prio ty. The following are the order ofpriority: First Priority- seafarers who are presently on boaxd and serving as Ship Security Officer Second Priority- seafarers who are presendy on board who meet qualification requirements of SSO and is being considered as replacement to the existing SSO who is scheduled for early disembarkation. Third Priority- seafarers who are on shore who meet the qualification requirements having been designated as SSO and is scheduled for deployment as SSO. Fourth Priority- seafarers on shore who meet the requirement for SSO and is applied by the shipping/manning company for the issuance ofsso cetificate. 3. Only submission of application for First and Second Priority shall be accepted upon effectivity of this Memorandum Circular. Application for Third and Fourth Priority shall only be submitted after Drooer announcement.
Section 5. Documentary Requirements' Application for Certificate of Proficiency of Ship Security Officer shall be accompanied by the following documentary requirements by priority: 1. Seafarer presently on board serving as SSO. Ship crew list- proofthat candidate is on board. Designation as SSO on board. Certificate ofcompletion of SSO taining cowse 2. Seafarers presently on board scheduled to replace disembarking sso. Ship crew list- proofthat candidate is on board. Cefiification that such seafarer will be designated as SSO as replacement. Certificate ofcompletion ofsso taining 3. Seafarers who are on shore who having been designated as SSO. Certification that candidate has served as SSO for at least 6 months in total during the preceding 3 years period. Certificate ofcompletion of SSO training 4. Seafarers on shore who meet the requirements for SSO and is applied by shipping / manning company for issuance of SSO cefiificate. Approved seagoing of not less than 12 months or approp ate seagoing service and knowledge ofship operation. Passing approved test for SSO at NAC or completed approved SSO course Section 6. Updating of Seafarers Qualification. In accordance with paragraph 3 of Regulation VI/5, the MTC Secretariat shall compare the standards of competence which is required of Ship Security Officer under the approved SSO training couse before the entry into force of the aforesaid Regulation with those specified for the Certificate of Proficiency ln S ction A-VI/s of the STCW Code, and shall determine the need for requiring existing seafarers who are issued SSO tmining certificates under this Resolution to update their qualification. Section 7. Register of certificat s, Certificates issued under this Resolution shall be included in the register ofall certificates beins maintained at the National Assessment Center.
Section 8. Suspension or revocation ofcertificates. The Madtime Training Council may suspend or revoke the certificate of proficiency ofa ship security officer on the following grounds: fa) the seafarer was found to have submitted flctitious data or infomation required for the issuance of certificates or documentary evidences under this Resolution. (b) the holder of the certificate or documentary evidence has been found guilty of incompetence, act or omission, that may pose a direct threat to ship security including irnplementation of ship security plan and liaison with company security officer and port secu ty officer. Section 9. Accreditation of Training Providers. The Madtime Industry Authority (MARINA) shall continue to accredit, monitor and supervise the operation of existing training providers conducting approved SSO Courses until the MTC Secretariat has completed the comparison of standards under the existing approved SSO Course before the entry into force ofsaid regulation with those specified for the certificate ofproficiency on S ction A-VI/5 ofthe STCW Code. The compadson should be completed not later than 1 July 2009 and the existing course prograrn shall be adjusted to conform with the provisions of section A-VI/5. The accreditation of SSO Courses under the adjusted program shall be administered by the MTC Secretariat. Section 10. Issue ofsso Certificate. A candidate who have demonstrated competence in accordance with Section 2 of this circular and documented in the prescribed Record ofassessment (ROA) shall be certified and issued a Certificate ofproficiency. The sum of TWO HUNDRED pesos (P 200) shall be paid to the OWWA Cashiq for each certificate issued. Section 1 l. Effectivity. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediatelv. /u.a,"t TERESITA T. LAUREL Acting Executive Director