REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY

STCW Circular No. 2017-02

TO: ALL SEAFARERS, MARITIME INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS,

PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT CENTERS / ASSESSMENT CENTERS,
MARITIME HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, MARITIME
TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, PORT STATE CONTROL, AND OTHER
ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED

SUBJECT: RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF

RATINGS AS ABLE SEAFARER DECK IN ACCORDANCE TO
REGULATION II/5 OF THE STANDARD OF TRAINING,
CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS,
1978, AS AMENDED.

Pursuant to PD 474 Republic Act No. 10635 and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR), and the International Convention on Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended (STCW Convention)
the following rules shall be adopted:

1. O B J E C T IV E S

To prescribe rules and regulations for the issuance of certificate of proficiency

as Able Seafarers Deck on a seagoing ship of 500 gross tonnage or more; in
accordance to Regulation II/5 of the STCW Convention, 1978 as amended.

2. C O V E R A G E

This Circular covers the examination, assessment and issuance of certificate

of proficiency as Able Seafarers Deck.

3. DEFINITION OF TERMS

For purposes of this Circular, in addition to the terms defined under STCW
Circular No. 2014-01 and other relevant STCW Circulars, the following
terms shall be defined as follows:

.1 "Rating" means a member of the ship's crew other than the master or
an officer;

.2 "Candidate" refers to any seafarer who intends to undergo assessment

of competence to qualify for certification as Able seafarer deck;

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 .3 "Approved Education and Training Program" refers to the education
and training program as approved by the Administration for the
purpose of qualifying a Rating as Able Seafarer Deck;

.4 "Certificate of Proficiency" means a certificate, other than a certificate

of competency issued to a seafarer, stating that the relevant
requirements of training, competencies or seagoing service in the
Convention have been met;

4. GENERAL PROVISIONS

.1 The issuance of certificate of proficiency shall be in accordance to

Regulation II/5 and the relevant provisions of Regulation I/2, I/9 and
1/15 of the STCW Convention 1978, as amended.

.2 The standard of competence shall be in accordance to section A-ll/5

of the STCW Code.

.3 The education and training of Able Seafarers Deck shall be in

accordance to Table A -ll/5 of the STCW Code.

.4 The methods for demonstrating competence shall be in accordance

to column 3 of Table A -ll/5 of the STCW Code.

5. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of ratings as Able

Seafarer Deck.

.1 Every Able Seafarer deck serving on a seagoing ship of 500 gross

tonnage or more shall be duly certificated.

.2 Every candidate for certification as Able Seafarer’s Deck shall:

.1 be not less than 18 years of age;

.2 meet the requirements for certification as a Rating Forming Part

of a Navigational Watch;

.3 While qualified to serve as a Rating Forming Part of a Navigational

Watch, have approved seagoing service in the deck department of:

.1 not less than 18 months, or

.2 not less than 12 months and have completed approved

training; and
 .3 meet the standard of competence specified in section A -ll/5 of
the STCW Code.

6. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF

PROFICIENCY AS ABLE SEAFARER DECK.

.1 Documentary evidence of meeting the requirements for rating

forming part of a navigational watch (Regulation II/4);

.2 Eighteen (18) months of approved seagoing service in the deck

department and have met the standard of competence specified in
section A-ll/5 of the STCW Code.
OR
Twelve (12) months seagoing service in the deck department and
certificate of completion of approved training for Able Seafarer Deck;

.3 Photocopy of page one (1) of SIRB, showing candidate is not less

18 years of age, and relevant pages showing appropriate seagoing
service/s and certificate of sea service from shipping company;

.4 Valid Medical Certificates from DOH-accredited medical hospital or

clinic;

.5 Certificate of Practical Assessment from MARINA accredited

Assessment Centers.

7. ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATION

.1 Every candidate for certification as Able Seafarer Deck shall meet

the standard of competence by passing the Practical Assessment
as prescribed in Annex I of this circular;

.2 Assessment center for Practical Assessment shall require

candidates to present the requirements set out in Section 6 of this
circular.

.3 Candidates with not less than 12 months of approved seagoing

service in the deck department shall undergo practical assessment
to be conducted by MARINA accredited assessment center.

.4 Assessment Centers and its affiliates are not allowed to conduct

assessment on their own trainees.

.5 If the assessment center who will use simulators as means to

assess a candidate, familiarization with the use of simulator shall be
conducted.
 .6 Assessment Center must abide with the equipment and trainee /
assessee ratio of 1:4 and assessee and assessor ratios of 1:16 for
the purpose of effective assessment process.

8. PROCEDURES FOR PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT

The candidate shall register and submit the following to the Assessment
Center:

.1 Candidate shall registered in the Seafarer Certification System

through http://stcw.marina.qov.ph/scsv2.0/) to secure the Seafarer’s
Registration Number (SRN) and upload all the documents under
Section 6.

.2 At the Assessment Center, candidates shall present documents as

prescribe on section 6 of this circular. Documents shall be valid and
verified for its authenticity.

.3 The candidate may choose as many competences as he intends to

take in one sitting;

.4 Assessment center shall provide schedule of practical assessment

after payment. Fees for practical assessment and re-sits shall be per
competence.

.5 No re-sit shall be given to the assessee on the same day to provide

them ample time for study or review.

9. DURING THE PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT:

.1 Report to the assessment center at least 30 minutes prior to

schedule;
.2 Follow the instructions of the authorized accredited assessor;
.3 Take the practical assessment or re-sit only for the competences
indicated;
.4 Complete the practical assessment in every competence indicated
within the time allotted; and
.5 Do not leave the examination premises until after taking the
assessment, as scheduled;

10. AFTER TAKING THE PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT

.1 secure results in the various competences;

.2 note the competences with a failing mark, if any; and schedule for re­
sit, if necessary; or
.3 schedule other competences that are not yet taken, if necessary;
11. REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF PRACTICAL
ASSESSMENT

.1 The candidate shall pass all the competences within a period of not
exceeding 2 years (24 months) to be reckoned from the last date of
practical assessment;

.2 If the candidate fails to complete all the competences within the 2-

year period, those that received a "PASSED" mark beyond 2 years
shall expire, and shall be re-assessed accordingly

.3 A candidate who fails in a certain competence shall not be allowed to re-sit

on the same day.

.4 A candidate who fails three (3) times on the same competence

during the oral or practical assessment is not allowed to re-sit for not
less than one (1) month.

12. DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY THE ADMINISTRATION

For a seafarer who has completed all the requirements under section 6
of this Circular, a Certificate of Proficiency for Ratings as Able seafarer
shall be issued

13. QUALIFIED POSITIONS ON BOARD FOR THE ISSUANCE OF

ABLE SEAFARERS DECK

Deck Cadet, Bosun, Pumpman, Fitter, AB, AB/GP, AB/Cook, OS,

GP, GP/OS, Cat/OS, Crane Operator, Forklift Driver, Rastabout,
Painter, Carpenter, Mechanic, Cable Layer, Derrickman, Rigger,
Splicer, Voyage Cleaner or any other position considered by the
Administration as equivalent.

14. SCHEDULE OF FEES, PENALTIES AND FINES

The schedule of fees, penalties and fines shall be provided in a

separate circular.

15. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

.1 The mandatory minimum requirements on tankers and passenger

ships under Chapter V of the STCW Code (Special Training
Requirements) shall be provided in a separate circular;
 .2 The period of validity of any Certificate issued by the Administration
shall be in conformance with the standards and guidance set out under
the STCW Convention 1978, as amended;

16. TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Seafarers who have served in a relevant capacity in the deck

department for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60
months prior to 01 Jan. 2012 and have met the requirements of
Regulation II/5 of the STCW Convention 1978, as amended, shall be
issued upon request with the corresponding Certificate of Proficiency.

17. PENALTY CLAUSE

Any violation of the provisions of this Circular and other related MARINA
issuances shall be governed and sanctioned by the provisions of the
IRR for RA 10635 and pertinent MARINA STCW Circulars, including any
amendment or addendum thereof, as may be promulgated by the
Administration.

18. REPEALING CLAUSE

Any provision of existing MARINA and STCW Circulars, rules and

regulations, or of any other Philippine government agency related to
education, training, examination, assessment, licensing and certification
of rating as able seafarer deck, which are contrary or inconsistent with
this Circular are hereby superseded, repealed or amended accordingly.

19. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE

Should any provision or part of this Circular be declared by any

competent authority to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining
provisions or parts hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall
continue to be valid and effective.
 20. EFFECTIVITY:

This STCW Circular shall take effect immediately on the day of

its publication. Manila, Philippines, Mog 10, to 1T.

Submitted

:a p t . e l e a z a r g . d ia z

Executive Director- STCW Office

This is to certify that STCW Circular No. 1 0 H - 0 'l was approved by the
A d m in is tra to r on Moij lo, low .
 ANNEX I

GUIDE FOR THE PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT OF

COMPETENCE FOR RATINGS AS ABLE SEAFARER DECK

NUMBER OF
COMPETENCE REMARKS
EXERCISES

F1 NAVIGATION AT THE SUPPORT LEVEL

C 1* Contribute to a safe navigational watch T & A (RPFNW )

Contribute to berthing, anchoring and other mooring

C2 1
operations
CARGO HANDLING AND STOWAGE AT THE
F2
SUPPORT LEVEL

C3 Contribute to the handling of cargo and stores 1

CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE SHIP

F3 AND CARE FOR PERSONS ON BOARD AT THE
SUPPORT LEVEL
Contribute to the safe operation of deck equipment
C4 1
and machinery

C5 Apply occupational health and safety precautions 1

Apply precautions and contribute to the prevention of T&A

C6* ( MARPOL l-V l)
pollution o f the marine environment
T&A
C 7* Operate survival craft and rescue boats (PSCRB)

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR AT THE SUPPORT

F4
LEVEL

C8 Contribute to shipboard maintenance and repair 1

REMARKS: PASS OR FAIL

T&A = Training and Assessment Documentary Evidence

Notes
1. Candidate are required to PASS all competences in order to qualify for the issuance of AB Seafarer Deck
2. C1, C6 and C7 (*) shall be an evidenced obtained from an approved training and assessment related thereto.
3. A candidate who fails in a certain competence shall not be allowed to re-sit on the same day.
4. The assessment results are subject to the validation of the Board of Ratings