The Maritime Industry Authority has granted a one-year extension for expiring Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW), Seafarer’s Record Books (SRBs), and Seafarer’s Identification and Record Books (SIRBs) as part of its effort to assist Filipino seafarers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an advisory Tuesday, the agency said all STCW certificates expiring between Sept. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020 shall be extended for a period of one year from the date of expiry of the certificate.
However, the Marina said the seafarers must be compliant with the following provisions:
*The seafarer must have a completed approved seagoing service performing duties appropriate to the certificate held, for a period of at least 12 months in total during the last five years prior to revalidation or three months in total during the last six months immediately prior to revalidation.
*For the Certificate of Proficiency (COP) in tanker courses, the seafarer must have completed approved seagoing service performing the duties appropriate to the tank certificate held for a period of at least three months in total during the preceding five years.
*The seafarer must meet the standards of medical fitness specified in Section A-I/9 of the STCW Code.
“The agency is aware of the challenges in the maritime industry amidst the pandemic, especially in terms of conduct of trainings, revalidation of certificates, and ship to shore interactions including crew changes,” it stated.
The agency also directed manning or crewing agencies and shipping companies to inform their crewmembers to comply with these STCW requirements.
Meanwhile, the agency announced all SRBs and SIRBs of seafarers currently serving on board ships and ashore which are expiring between March 13, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020 shall be extended for one year from the date of expiry.
The Marina encouraged the seafarers who are not currently onboard to renew their SIRBs or SRBs six months prior to the document’s expiration to avoid expected influx of SIRB or SRB renewal next year.
The agency ordered the manning or crewing agencies and shipping companies to submit a list of their crewmembers whose validity of STCW certificates, SRBs, and SIRBs have been extended via email at [email protected] and [email protected]. (With a report from Betheena Unite)