MARINA Course Streamlining Efforts Ongoing

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) announced that it is doing all necessary measures to streamline all seafarers’ updating and training courses.

“We are slowly changing the system to unify the regulations like MARPOL 1 to 6, such as Ship Handling and Maritime law, when those and other courses, previously required and handled by the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) those are already consolidated by the Updating Course,” MARINA Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Office head Chief/Mate Michael John Esplago said.

He added the training process is now unified and singular.

“Although we already lessened the paperwork needed and we want to further shorten the process, we have to take into consideration the comprehension of the industry towards the convention. When something like the board certificate isn’t required by the Convention, we no longer require our seafarers to take those to help lessen their workload,” he added.

“This goes the same for OICs (Officer-in-Charge) who want to upgrade to Management Level Course. If you are an existing OIC, you don’t have to take Part A of the updating course because it is not a pre-requisite. This means they can already take Part B of the Updating before finally taking the full MLC course,” Esplago stressed. (PNA) BNB/PFN