MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE RECOGNITION OF TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF SEAFARERS FOR SERVICE ON BOARD VESSELS REGISTERED IN THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA BETWEEN THE M…

RECOGNITION OF CERTIFICATES UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, 1978, AS AMENDED
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The Maritime Industry Authority, acting on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines, and the Maritime Administration of Latvia, acting on behalf of the Republic of Latvia (both hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”), for recognition of national certificates under the terms of regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “STCW Convention”), and the Code annexed to the STCW Convention (hereinafter referred to as the “STCW Code”),

HAVING REGARD to the STCW Convention and the STCW Code, and

GUIDED by circular MSC.1/Circ.1450 of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization, and

ACTING without prejudice to the national laws of either Party,

HEREBY ENTER this Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter referred to as the “MOU”):

Article 1
Definitions and clarifications
 

1.1	For this MOU:
	1.1.1.	Certificate means a certificate issued to masters, officers, and GMDSS radio operators in accordance with the provisions of the STCW Convention, entitling the lawful holder thereof to serve in the capacity and perform the functions involved at the level of responsibility specified therein.
	1.1.2.	Administration means Maritime Administration of Latvia, the Party that is to recognise the Certificate.
	1.1.3.	Certificate-issuing Party means Maritime Industry Authority, the Party that is issuing the Certificate to be recognised.
	1.1.4.	Endorsement of recognition means a document issued by the Administration pursuant to regulations I/2 and I/10 of the STCW Convention certifying that the referenced Certificate is duly recognised.
1.2	Terms not defined in this MOU shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the STCW Convention unless the context requires otherwise.

Article 2
Officials responsible for implementing the MOU
The officials designated to be directly responsible for implementing this MOU and for liaison between the Parties are as follows: 

For Certificate-issuing Party:		For Administration:
Maritime Industry Authority		Registry of Seamen, Maritime Administration of Latvia
Position:	Executive Director, STCW Office	Position:	Head of the Registry of Seamen
Address:	5/F MARINA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive Cor. 20th Street Port Area (South)	Address:	2a Katrinas str., LV-1045, Riga, Latvia
Tel.:	+632 83549645	Tel.:	+371 67099400
E-mail:	oadm@marina.gov.ph oed@marina.gov.ph	E-mail:	jr@lja.lv
Website:	stcw.marina.gov.ph	Website:	lja.lv

Application
3.1 This MOU is applicable with respect to seafarers holding Certificates issued by the Certificate­ issuing Party in accordance with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention and serving on board ships flying the flag of the Administration.

3.2 The provisions of this MOU shall apply while both Parties ensure that full and complete effect is given to the provisions of the Convention as confirmed by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO with the relevant circular, the so-called IMO White List.

Article 4
Recognition of the Certificate  
 

4.1	Pursuant to the provisions of regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention, the Administration shall recognise, by issuing an Endorsement of Recognition, the Certificates issued by the Certificate­ issuing Party, whereby the latter shall ensure the following:
	4.1.1.	the training and assessment of competence of its seafarers are undertaken in accordance with the provisions of section A-I/6 of the STCW Code;
	4.1.2	those responsible for the training and assessment of competence referred to in the preceding paragraph are appropriately qualified in accordance with the provisions of section A-I/6 of the STCW Code;
	4.1.3	all education, training, assessment of competence, certification, endorsement, and revalidation activities are continuously monitored through a quality standards system in accordance with the provisions of section A-I/8 of the STCW Code; and
	4.1.4.	Endorsement of Certificates issued is carried out in accordance with the provisions of regulation I/2, paragraph 5 of the STCW Convention.
4.2	Where a seafarer presents, for recognition, a Certificate issued under regulations II/2, III/2 or III/3, or issued under regulation VII/1 at the management level, the Administration will not recognise the Certificate unless it is satisfied that the seafarer has an appropriate knowledge of the maritime legislation of the Administration relevant to the functions the seafarer is permitted to perform.
4.3	The Administration shall not issue the recognition endorsement on the basis of the endorsement issued by the third party in accordance with the provisions of Regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention.
4.4	The Certificate-issuing Party shall notify the Administration of any significant changes in the arrangements for training and certification provided in compliance with the STCW Convention within thirty (30) days from the application of such changes. As a minimum, significant changes should be understood to include:
	4.4.1	changes in the position, address, or access information for the official responsible for implementing this MOU;
	4.4.2	changes affecting the procedures set forth in this MOU; and
	4.4.3	changes which amount to substantial differences from the information communicated to the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization pursuant to section A-I/7 of the STCW Code.
4.5	The Administration may request the following information from the Certificate-issuing Party, in which case it shall be provided within thirty (30) days:
	4.5.1	results of independent evaluations conducted by the Certificate-issuing Party in accordance with regulation I/8 of the STCW Convention; and
	4.5.2	reports of the steps taken by the Certificate-issuing Party to implement any subsequent amendments to the STCW Convention and STCW Code in accordance with section A-I/7, paragraph 5 of the STCW Code.

Article 5
Suspension, revocation, and withdrawal of the Certificate
or the Endorsement of Recognition   
 

5.1	The Certificate-issuing Party shall, within thirty (30) working days, notify the Administration of any suspension, revocation and withdrawal of the Certificate issued by it, as well as stating the reasons for doing so.
5.2	The Administration shall, within thirty (30) working days, notify the Certificate-issuing Party of the circumstances when it has suspended, revoked, or withdrawn its Endorsement of Recognition for disciplinary or other reasons.

 
Article 6
Mutual Cooperation  
 

6.1	The Parties agree to co-operate with a view to strengthening the technical and administrative capabilities relating to the certification, training, watchkeeping and maritime labour affairs of the seafarers of each Party.
6.2	The cost of cooperative activities under this MOU shall be borne by each Party according to its own resources.

Article 7
Visit procedures  
 

7.1	The Administration may, in accordance with the provisions of regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention and subject to the consent of the Certificate-issuing Party, visit the facilities, observe the procedures, or review the policies which have been approved or employed by the Certificate­ issuing Party for meeting the requirements of the STCW Convention regarding:
	7.1.1.	standards of competence;
	7.1.2.	training;
	7.1.3.	the issue, endorsement, revalidation, and revocation of the Certificates;
	7.1.4.	record-keeping;
	7.1.5.	medical standards;
	7.1.6.	quality standards; and
	7.1.7.	communication and response process to requests for verifications.
7.2	When requesting a visit, the Administration shall issue a notification at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the visit, either by an official correspondence or e-mail, whereby such notification shall include the following:
	7.2.1.	the purpose of the visit and the facilities to be visited;
	7.2.2.	procedures or policies that will be reviewed during the visit; and
	7.2.3.	a list of the names of visiting personnel of the Administration.
7.3	The Administration shall communicate the results of any evaluation carried out to the Certificate­ issuing Party within three (3) months of the completion of the visit.

Article 8
Verification of validity and authenticity of the Certificate   
 

8.1	In accordance with the requirements of the STCW Convention, the Administration may verify the validity and authenticity or the content of the Certificates issued by the Certificate-issuing Party and resolve any questions which may arise in connection therewith, primarily by using the IMO online verification system or by using an official e-mail, when the verification process shall not exceed five (5) working days.
8.2	If either Party changes its postal address, contact telephone number or e-mail address referred to in Article 2 of this MOU, the other Party shall be notified of these changes as soon as possible, but not later than thirty (30) days after the change has taken place.

Article 9
Certificate format

The Certificate-issuing Party shall provide the Administration with specimens of the Certificates issued by it, and any modifications made thereof.

Article 10
Settlement of disputes
The Parties shall use their best efforts, through diplomatic channels, to settle amicably all disputes arising out of or in connection with this MOU or the interpretation thereof.

Article 11
Entry into force, validity, amendment, and termination of the MOU   
 

11.1	This MOU shall enter into force on the date of the last signature.
11.2	This MOU shall be valid for an initial period of five (5) years and shall be automatically extended for further periods of five (5) years unless either Party submits a written notice of termination thereof to the other Party six (6) months prior to the expiration of this MOU or any subsequent five-year period.
11.3	This MOU may be amended with the consent of both Parties, and any amendments decided upon by the Parties will come into effect when confirmed in writing by the Parties.
11.4	This MOU may be terminated or suspended by either Party, subject to a written notification being sent to the other Party, through diplomatic channels, thirty (30) days prior to the date of termination or suspension, in case of any of the following events:
	11.4.1.	if the country of the Certificate-issuing Party fails to retain its name on the list of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization which confirms that parties continue to give full and complete effect to the relevant provisions of the Convention in accordance with the MSC.1/Circ.1164, as revised; or
	11.4.2.	if either Party fails to carry out its obligations specified in this MOU.

DONE in duplicate in the English language.

For the Maritime Industry Authority,	For the Maritime Administration of Latvia,
Sgd. Sonia B. Malaluan Administrator, Maritime Industry Authority	Sgd. Janis Krastinš Director, Maritime Administration of Latvia
Date: 11 Feb 2025	Date: 11 Feb 2025
Place: London, United Kingdom	Place:

Entry into Force: February 11, 2025