Latest MARINA COP Renewal Requirements

As a new certification requirement from the 2010 STCW Manila amendments came into effect, seafarers needs to be certified as per the convention. Hence, a five yearly assessment of competence is put in place. This can be proven thru documentary requirements and assessed by the certifying party to the convention.

In effect, seafarers needs to have this certification for them to be able to join and serve on ships. This is the importance of COP renewal as this certificate satisfy the convention’s requirements for Filipino seafarers onboard merchant ships.

Good news is that there is no need for refresher courses for those who want to renew their COP certificates. As of late 2021, MARINA honors and accepts attestation letters as documentary evidence of continuous demonstration of competence onboard ships.

When should I renew my COP?

Preferably, you should renew your COP before it expires. If in case in any circumstances you can’t renew before it expires, you might need to take refresher courses of the COP that you need to renew. This however is not confirmed as we are awaiting reply from STCW Office.

Training that was taken or completed 2 years before the date of application may still be accepted for issuance of cop provided that the required information relative thereto is encoded by the concerned training provider.