MARINA COP renewal just got easier

September 4, 2021

Yes! You read that right mates. MARINA COP renewal just got easier. It does not need its biggest, costliest and time consuming requirement – refresher courses. This is as per MARINA’s Advisory No. 2021-49.

Training in Advance Fire Fighting

This is huge relief to all my Filipino mates as this actually makes a difference. This will save us time, money and effort due to offloading of this refresher requirement.

Onboard Training

Onboard Drills

Instead of training ashore, MARINA puts weight on onboard training that is undertaken by the applicant seafarer.

Seafarer knows onboard drills are better than ashore as scenarios and environment makes it close to being the real thing.

In addition, PSC, vetting and flag state inspectors are keen on these things. Thus, making it more valid to use as proof of competence.

Onboard Drills

Qualifications

According to the Advisory released by MARINA:

  1. Seafarers that are qualified in accordance with Section A-VI/1, A-VI/2 and A-VI/3 in every 5 years, shall provide evidence of having maintained the required standard of competence.
  2. Seafarers with onboard training experience, 12 months in the last 5 years for maintaining the required standard of competence laid in Table A-VI/1-1, A-VI/1-2, A-VI/2-1, A/VI/3 shall be accepted as evidence instead of refresher courses.

COP Renewal new requirements

As above takes into force, this are the new requirements for the following COPs:

  1. Seagoing Service of not less than 12 months
  2. An attestation letter or any document from the Ship’s Captain/Ship Owners/Manning Agencies that onboard training and other practical training were undertaken by the applicant seafarer.

These are the new requirements once a seafarer will apply for revalidation of COP on Basic Training (BT), Survival Craft and Rescue Boat (SCRB), Fast Rescue Boat (FRB), and Advance Fire Fighting (AFF).

Moving Forward

As i roam around social media, everybody celebrates this new development. This is such a positive news for us. Not having to spend time in training centers is good. This time can be spend with our family instead.

Though as training centers takes a huge loss for this, there may not be a requirement that of the same manner as refresher courses. We appreciate MARINA’s efforts in putting to and end to this long time misery.