NMP upgrades maritime training services

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 27 (PNA)– The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) upgrades its training services to comply with the standards of training certification and watch keeping for seafarers (STCW) amended in 2010.

NMP Executive Director Manuel Roldan said that 26 of the courses they offer are already upgraded, but they still have seven courses pending for accreditation.

“The full compliance of STCW 2010 will start by January 2017, that’s why it’s very crucial that NMP has to upgrade the training requirements of the seafarers, otherwise, they will not be allowed to be on board again,” Roldan added.

After the STCW’s amendment, they reviewed and revised their courses to make sure that they would address the competency requirements needed.

Roldan said that there are about 80,000 seafarers affected by these amendments.

“The navigation watch and the engine watch, two of those pending courses, are very important to seafarers. If they would not take these courses, they will not be given the permission to get on board,” Roldan explained.

According to him, these courses have not been accredited yet because the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) had issued a moratorium that holds the accreditation of these courses.

“Marina is evaluating the courses and procedures itself. They saw some flaws and they are evaluating it, but they had promised that they will lift the moratorium by the middle of November this year and we are waiting for it,” Roldan added.

NMP, which was severely damaged by super typhoon Yolanda, is now back on its feet and is catering to a minimum of 150 trainees weekly. (PNA) FPV/SQM/Jonabel L. Salazar (OJT)
/EGR