Another MLC version in the offing
EVEN though it already made official the reimposition of the Management Level Course (MLC) for deck and engineer officers, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) said that the course is still undergoing thorough review with the end view of introducing major revisions to make it less of a burden to aspiring senior officers.
Despite continuing strong opposition from various quarters, Marina has stood pat on its decision to reimpose the MLC after it said it found enough basis to make it one of the requirements again in applying for Certificate of Competency (COC) for managementlevel officer candidates.
Marina issued on Nov. 10, 2022, Advisory 2022-56 s. 2022, reiterating that “the STCW Mandatory Courses are required in the issuance and revalidation of Certificate of Competency (COC) and Certificate of Proficiency (CPP)” to Filipino seafarers by virtue of Resolution 2022-09-04 approved by the Marina Board on Sept. 20, 2022.
In its advisory, Marina specifically declared that “the Management Level Course (MLC) for Marine Deck Officers and MLC for Marine Officers that were adopted and promulgated under Marina Memorandum Circular (MC) 2014-01, are mandatory courses, and shall be continued to be implemented in accordance with the said Circular.”
The latest Marina advisory, however, clarified that “MLC for Deck Officers and MLC for Engine Officers will only be required for seafares who will aplly for assessment of competence and subsequent issuance of COC as Master and Chief Mate and Chief Engineer and Second Engineer Officers.”
It was argued by some quarters that the MLC as a required training course for senior officers, is not included explicitly among the requirements listed in the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.
In a statement, Marina explained: “Marina developed the training standards for the ‘Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of masters and chief mates on ships of 500 gross tonnages or more of Table A-II2’ and ‘Mandatory minimum requirements for certification of chief engineer officers and second engineer officers on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more of Table A-III/2 of the STCW Code’ — naming these training standards as MLC for Deck and Engine Officer under Marina Memorandum Circular No. 2014-01.”
Nonetheless, Marina said “that the MLC is still undergoing review and revisions in order to improve its training design and delivery, particularly its cost and duration, without compromising compliance with the requirements of the STCW Convention.”
Hence, seafarers can look forward to seeing a new version with a significantly shorter duration of the course and less expensive and most likely, a blended version or a combination of online learning with minimal practical training to be done in training centers.
Other courses that Marina made mandatory again under the new advisory are the Electro-Technical Officer (ETO), and ElectroTechnical Ratings (ETR) courses. These courses are required for seafarers who will apply for an assessment of competence and subsequent issuance of COC as Operational Level Officers, as well as COC as ETO and COP as ETR.
Marina categorically declared that with the issuance of Advisory 2022-56, Marina Advisory 21-23, series of 2021, dated May 7, 2021; Marina Advisory 2021-45, series of 2021, dated Aug. 3, 2021; and Marina Advisory 2021-49, series of 2021, dated Aug. 26, 2021, are repealed.
Despite the issuance of Advisory 2022-26, it is expected that it would still take some time before training centers could offer the MLC again.
In all likelihood, it would be subjected to the required public consultation with stakeholders in maritime education and training before Marina could implement the improved version of the course.