The most efficient way to pursue a career at sea and become a seaman is to take a maritime course in any accredited maritime schools in the country. However, not all schools and universities are equal. They have to be approved by MARINA and CHED before they can offer...
Training Tips Articles
What Does a Deck Cadet Do and How Much is His Salary?
If you think that a deck cadet is an indispensable part of the shipboard organization, this will disappoint you. They may be an essential solution for the shortage of competent officers but these apprentices are not "must haves" on board. Sounds ironic? Let's...
Ship’s Safety Drills Vs. Real Emergency: What They Don’t Tell You
At one point in our seafaring career, we all experience emergencies in one form or another. My first was a fire in the swimming pool while discharging gasoline in the Port of Amsterdam. Fortunately, I managed to survive and live on to tell the tale. Nobody knows what...
MARINA to Speed Up Processing of COP/ COC Using New Policy
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) posted new policies for the filing of applications and rapid processing of Certificate of Competency (COC) and Certificate of Proficiency (COP). In their latest guideline which came out last October 10, 2022, Advisory 2022-54...
SIRE 2.0 Will Upgrade Your Vetting Experience. Are You Ready?
A new inspection regime, called SIRE 2.0, will be served to all tanker vessels in the 4th quarter of 2022. According to OCIMF, this modern approach to vetting inspection will have significant improvements compared to the current version of SIRE. But we still don't...
MARINA Seriously Considers Reviving MLC to Pass IMO Whitelist
The Maritime Industry Authority headed by Atty. Hernani Fabia sternly considers reviving the much controversial Management Level Course for Filipino Officers. According to the new Administrator, there was a finding by the Independent Evaluators that there is no...
Different Types of Line-Throwing Apparatus Used On Ships
A line-throwing apparatus (LTA) is a self-contained device that shoots a rocket projectile to a considerable distance while attached to a line. It is mostly used during rescue operations but sometimes on a ship-to-ship transfer where normal methods of contact using...
Ship Master’s Job Description: Duties, Responsibilities, and Salary
The Master, as a shipboard manager, is in overall command of the vessel and personnel on board. Being the highest ranking person, his duties and responsibilities cover the whole ship. Technically speaking, he is the "owner’s representative". He is responsible to the...
How to Become a Ship Captain in the Philippines
Becoming a ship captain involves lots of sacrifices in time, money and effort. The process is challenging because the job of commanding a vessel is serious. Due to that responsibility, the master of a ship is compensated greatly compared to other crew. A ship captain...
MARINA Offers FREE SEAMAN’S BOOK for First Timers
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) thru the efforts of DoTr secretary Arthur Tugade provided a FREE SEAMAN'S BOOK application for first time seafarers. Aside from that, regular mariners are entitled for a 50% discount whenever they renew their seaman’s book...
MARINA Scraps Mandatory MLC, OLC, ETR and ETO – a Huge Win for Filipino Seafarers
After more than five years of implementation, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) finally ditches Management and Operational Level Courses (MLC and OLC). Under the shipboard organization, this course is applicable to deck and engine officers only. MARINA Advisory...
MARINA Training Institute (MarTI) Takes Off in the City of Smiles
The Maritime Industry Authority launches its academic arm, the MARINA Training Institute or MarTI, which aims to improve, modernize and streamline the country’s maritime education and training systems and reach its full potential. MarTi is located in a four-storey...
MARINA-approved Training Centers in Visayas and Mindanao
Training centers in Visayas and Mindanao regions prove to be helpful for seafarers since majority lives in provinces. However, there are only a few training centers in Manila which are able to build branches in those areas. This could be due to the fact that many...
Fighting Guns with Guns: Private Maritime Security Companies Protecting Vessels Against Piracy
Using the services of private maritime security companies became well considered during the height of pirate infestations in the year 2009 to 2011. Since vessels are vulnerable to boarding in the high seas, the use of armed guards were an option in preventing attacks....
Blended Learning on My Advanced Chemical Tanker Course
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) adapted its training requirements for maritime institutions to include blended learning or hybrid learning. As I wrote on my other article, hybrid learning is a combination of online learning...
MARINA Approves Online Application for Resit and Reschedule of Theoretical Exam
All applications for RESIT and RESCHEDULE of Merchant Marine Officers exam are now available thru MISMO under the Examination Tab. To minimize unnecessary exposure of seafarers against COVID19, MARINA implements online application of theoretical examination starting...
List of MARINA Approved Maritime Training Centers in Luzon (NCR Excluded)
As the government slowly starts easing out COVID-19 restrictions, Maritime Training Institutions (MTI) slowly opens their training centers for seafarers. MARINA implemented special regulations like the blended learning mode which is a combination of online and...
Seafarers’ Training to Continue Using Blended Learning Mode
An online/ offline training or Blended Learning Mode is now available for seafarers. You can now apply or renew your SCTW certificates despite the raging coronavirus pandemic. Distance learning, which is new to the industry, will help us get our COP and COC much...
MARINA SID/ SRB (Seaman’s Book ) Online Application: Complete Guide
Online application of MARINA’s SID/ SRB documents is now in full ahead. With new regulations in place, our Seaman's Book got a new upgrade. Seafarers will not be given a Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) starting November 2019. Instead, they must apply...
MARINA Replaces SIRB with SID/ SRB
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) launches a new identification system for seafarers called SID/ SRB. Since November 2019, they already stopped producing our Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) as you can see in online appointment MISMO. What they...
How to Get Your FREE COP of BT and SDSD- for First Timers Only
Under First Time Jobseekers MC-No.-SC-2019-02, first time job seekers can now process their COP of BT and SDSD for FREE. This is in accordance with Republic Act No. 11261 or "First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act" Basic Training (BT) and Seafarers with Designated...
The New POEA Eregistration Version 2 – Update for OFWs and Seafarers
Dubbed as eRegistration Version 2, POEA recently made a soft launch of their newest online platform for overseas workers. It replaces the old (well, not really) e-registration system we’re using. One of my reader commented on my previous “e-Registration how-to”...
How to Recover Your MARINA MISMO Account- Forgot Password, Email Address and SRN Number
If you're looking for solutions on how to recover your MARINA MISMO account, you've come to the right place! I had a friend who forgot his whole account information while on board. He was planning to re-validate his Certificates of Proficiency (COPs) and decided to...
List of MARINA Regional Offices and Satellite Branches in the Philippines
Here is a list of MARINA Regional Offices and Satellite Branches where you can process your Seaman’s Book, Seafarer's Identity Document (SID) and Certificate of Proficiency (COP). Knowing the nearest MARINA Office in your area provides great advantage. You don't have...
MISMO COP Requirements 2022 from MARINA: Issuance, Revalidation and Replacement
Here are the complete requirements in applying for a Certificate of Proficiency (COP) using MARINA’s latest online application platform. MARINA’s Integrated Seafarers Management Online System or more commonly known as MISMO enables seafarers to submit their COP...
9 Easy Steps in Processing Your COP Using MISMO for FREE!
The MARINA Integrated Seafarers Management Online System or MISMO is now in full swing. All seafarers who need to process their theoretical exams, practical assessments, Certificate of Proficiency (COP) and Seaman’s Book (SIRB) are advised to complete the requirements...