Have you seen sponsored posts on social media regarding online training provided by some maritime training centers? Does the online platform for maritime training be the mainstream moving forward? Don’t put much hope on it.
While we are ecstatic with this new development, online training courses are perfectly fine as long as they are not mandatory for certification under the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.
That means that the only courses which can be done online are courses which are not covered or regulated by MARINA’s STCW Division. Courses which are mandatory under the STCW Convention still needs to be done in actual classroom setting, not online.
Courses being offered online
Some of the courses that some maritime training centers are offering online:
- Consolidated MARPOL
- Anti-Piracy
- ISM
- Maritime English
- HAZMAT
- Cargo Handling
- ISPS
- PADAMS
“With regard to the ISPS, the said training should not be construed as alternative or replacement of SDSD which is included in the list of mandatory courses approved by MARINA, pursuant to Annex I of STCW Advisory no. 2019-05, available on our official website at stcw.marina.gov.ph“- STCW Division in reply to our query.
Furthermore, Maritime Training Centers (MTIs) are prohibited to implement or conduct any similar course title or content so as to deceive the public that such course are approved and compliant with STCW Convention as found in the Item 1 of Section 8.3 of the IRR of RA 10635.
Will we see STCW courses being done online?
Not now, no. Or ever will be. If you continue to read the IRR of the Republic Act 10365 Section 8.3, it is clear that the agency (MARINA) is very strict in regards to attendance, participation and other documentary evidence that would satisfy and meet the requirements set forth by the convention.
Will they bend the law to accommodate the demand for safer, convenient way to carry out these STCW courses? The law and the IRR will answer you that for now.
Read the full IRR here.