GUIDANCE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULATION VI/1 (BASIC TRAINING) PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1978 STCW CONVENTION, AS AMENDED

WHEREAS, Regulation VI/1 of the STCW Convention, as amended provides
that seafarers shall receive familiarization and basic safety training
or instruction in accordance with Section A-VI/1 of the STCW Code and
shall meet the specific standard of competence specified therein;

WHEREAS, STCW .7/circ 1 dated 24 September 1996 clarified the
implementation of Regulation VI/1 in accordance with the transitional
provision of the 1995 STCW;

WHEREAS, the above clarificatory issuance advises the
Administrations, with regards to seafarers who have commenced sea
service before 01 February 1997, to treat each case on its merits and
should, in doing so, take full account of the standards of competence in
Section A-VI/1-2 of the 1995 STCW;

WHEREAS, a large and undetermined number of seafarers have
undertaken training in Basic Fire Fighting, Personal Survival and
Elementary First Aid before 01 February 1997 and who may have commenced
approved sea service before that date;

WHEREAS, MTC Resolution No. 02, s-1998 provides the policies with
regards to Basic Training conducted in training centers with authority
from the MTC;

WHEREAS, paragraph 2 of the MTC Resolution No. 02, S-1998 needs to
be supplemented by provisions that would comply with Regulation VI/1 of
the Convention, as amended taking into account the above clarifications;

WHEREAS, MTC Resolution No. 03, S-1998 which governs the full
implementation of the requirements under Regulation VI/1 of the amended
Convention only took effect on 28 October 1998, and there are seafarers
who completed the training requirements under paragraph 2.1 of Section
A-VI/1 but have not been assessed in accordance with paragraph 2.2 of
the said Section;

WHEREAS, basic safety training is also part of the curriculum for BSMT, BSMarE and Seafarers Course for Ratings.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, resolve as
it is hereby resolved that in qualifying seafarer to the 1995 STCW
requirement under Regulation VI/1, the following shall be applied:

1.         Seafarers who have undergone training in Basic Fire
Fighting, Personal Survival and Elementary First Aid before 01 February
1997 and who have served on board ships not less than 500GRT for at
least one year within the last 5 years, shall be qualified under the
1995 STCW, provided that such seafarer:

1.1    has completed an approved training course in Personal
Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) from any of the training centers
authorized by the MTC; and

1.2    has been assessed by a qualified assessor of having
demonstrated competence in accordance with the requirements of columns 3
and 4 of the relevant competency tables in the STCW Code.

2.         Seafarers who have undergone training in the 4 Basic
Safety Courses after 01 February 1997 but before the full implementation
of MTC Resolution No. 03, S-1998, shall be qualified under the 1995
STCW provided that such seafarer:

2.1    has completed the four (4) courses from any of the training centers authorized by the MTC to conduct such training; and

2.2    has been assessed by a qualified assessor of having
demonstrated competence in accordance with the requirements of columns 3
and 4 of the relevant competency tables in the STCW Code.

3.         Seafarers who will undergo training and issued training
under Resolution No. 03, s-1998 shall be considered having complied with
the 1995 STCW;

4.         Seafarers who have met the requirements of paragraph 1
and 2 above shall be issued appropriate training certificates by the
training centers authorized by the MTC;

5.         Students who have fully completed the courses in BSMT,
BSMarE and Seafarers Rating Course are deemed to have complied with the
requirement of Regulation VI/1, provided that those who have not fully
completed the above course but have completed training in Fire
Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Survival Techniques, Elementary
First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibility and have been
accordingly assessed in accordance with the corresponding tables in the
STCW Code, shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of the
said Regulation.

Resolve further that the MTC Executive Officer is directed to
prepare the implementing guidelines in carrying out the provisions of
this Resolution and ensure that STCW ’95 documentary evidences are
issued accordingly.

Finally, Resolve that in order to ensure uniformity in the issuance
of documentary evidences or training certificates for the basic safety
training, the MTC Secretariat, Commission on Higher Education and TESDA
should agree and establish a common format of documentary evidence or
training certificate to be issued.

Adopted: 07 Sept. 1999

Approved:

(SGD.) BIENVENIDO E. LAGUESMA Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment Chairman, Maritime Training Council
(SGD.) REYNALDO A. REGALADO Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)	(SGD.) ESTER A. GARCIA Chairman, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
(SGD.) ADM. MANUEL I. DE LEON, AFP Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)	(SGD.) VICENTE F. ALDANESE, JR. Private Sector Representative, Filipino Association for Mariners Employment (FAME)