MARINA’s COP requirements for mandatory training courses with their corresponding certificates of proficiency are now fully implemented. This includes our tanker COP requirements after the 2010 Manila Amendments.
This is in accordance with Chapter V of the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended. For the industry to be in compliance, MARINA issued requirements for COP on these updates.
In this article, we will be focusing on the basic and advanced courses for seaman serving in tanker ships.
COP Requirements for Tanker Crew
Here is the complete list of COPs and their application requirements for tanker personnel.
This is based on MARINA STCW Circular 2021-05. It includes the documents needed for issuance and renewal.
Be sure to have your MISMO account because you will upload these documents into their system. No account yet? visit their online appointment website and create one.
Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations (BTOCTO)
This training does not require sea service to be issued a certificate of proficiency (COP). The seafarer must only take an approved course and present documentary evidence for issuance.
Documentary Requirements for Issuance
- Valid COP in BT
- Certificate of Training Completion for BTOCTCO OR
- Approved seagoing service of at least 3 months on Oil or Chemical Tankers and records or evidence of passing the assessment in an approved BTOCTCO
- Valid Medical Certificate in PEME format
For Revalidation
- Valid COP in BTOCTCO
- Approved seagoing service for a period of at least three (3) months in total within the last five (5) years prior to the date of revalidation onboard Oil or Chemical Tanker, OR
- Certificate of Training Completion in BTOCTCO, if expired COP in BTOCTCO or if the applicant does not meet the required seagoing service.
- Medical Certificate in PEME format from an approved medical center.
Important:
Renewal of BTOCTCO COP only applies to Officers and Engineers. Ratings are not required to re-validate this certificate.
Basic Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operation (BTLGTCO)
The training course is 36 hours long. A sea service experience of at least three months in a Gas Tanker is required. If you have no sea service, an approved BTLGTCO training is needed for issuance.
Take note of the “OR” statement.
Documentary Requirements for Issuance
- Valid COP in BT
- Certificate of Training Completion in BTLGTCO, OR
- Approved seagoing service of at least 3 months on Liquefied Gas Tankers and records or evidence of passing the assessment in an approved BTLGTCO
- Valid Medical Certificate in PEME format
For Revalidation
- Valid COP in BTLGTCO
- Approved seagoing service for a period of at least three (3) months in total within the last five (5) years prior to the date of revalidation onboard Liquefied Gas Tanker, OR
- Certificate of Training Completion in BTLGTCO, if expired COP in BTLGTCO or if the applicant does not meet the required seagoing service.
- Medical Certificate in PEME format
Important:
Renewal of BTLGTCO COP only applies to Officers and Engineers. Ratings are not required to re-validate this certificate.
Advanced Training for Oil Tanker Cargo Operation (ATOTCO)
The training course is 60 hours long. Before enrolling, you must have a sea service experience and an approved training.
Take note of the “OR” statement.
Documentary Requirements for Issuance
- Valid COP in BTOCTCO
- Certificate of Training Completion for ATOTCO
- While qualified for certification in Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations, has completed an approved seagoing service of at least three (3) months on Oil Tankers, OR
- At least 1 month of approved onboard training on Oil
- Tankers, in supernumerary capacity, which includes at least 3 loading and 3 unloading operations and documented in an approved training record book; AND
- Valid Medical Certificate in PEME format
For Revalidation
- Valid COP in ATOTCO
- Approved seagoing service for a period of at least three (3) months in total within the last five (5) years prior to the date of revalidation in the capacity as Master, Chief Engineer Officer, Chief, or Second Engineer Officer, as appropriate, onboard Chemical Tanker, OR
- Certificate of Training Completion in ATOTCO, if expired COP in ATCTCO or if the applicant does not meet the required seagoing service.
- Medical Certificate in PEME format
Important:
Revalidation of ATOTCO COP is for Management Level only.
Advanced Training for Chemical Tanker Cargo Operation (ATCTCO)
This is similar to ATOTCO only that the type of vessel is different. The training course is 60 hours long. Before enrolling, you must have a sea service experience and an approved training.
Take note of the “OR” and “AND”.
Documentary Requirements for Issuance
- Valid COP in BTOCTCO
- Certificate of Training Completion in ATCTCO
- While qualified for certification in Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations, has completed an approved seagoing service of at least 3 months on Chemical Tankers, OR
- At least 1 month of approved onboard training, in supernumerary capacity, which includes at least 3 loading and 3 unloading operations and is documented in an approved training record book; AND
- Valid Medical Certificate in PEME format
For Revalidation
- Valid COP in ATCTCO
- Approved seagoing service for a period of at least three (3) months in total within the last five (5) years prior to the date of revalidation in the capacity as Master, Chief Engineer Officer, Chief, or Second Engineer Officer, as appropriate, onboard Chemical Tanker, OR
- Certificate of Training Completion in ATOTCO, if expired COP in ATCTCO or if the applicant does not meet the required seagoing service.
- Medical Certificate in PEME format
Important:
Revalidation of ATCTCO COP is for Management Level only.
Advanced Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operation (ATLGTCO)
This is similar to ATOTCO and ATCTCO only that the type of vessel is different. The training course is 60 hours long. Before enrolling, you must have a sea service experience and an approved training.
Take note of the “OR” and “AND” statements.
Documentary Requirements for Issuance
- Valid COP in BTLGTCO
- Certificate of Training Completion in ATLGTCO
- While qualified for certification in Basic Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations has completed an approved seagoing service of at least 3 months on Liquefied Gas Tankers, OR
- At least 1 month of approved seagoing service onboard training on Liquefied Gas Tankers, in a supernumerary capacity, which includes at least 3 loading and 3 unloading operations and is documented in an approved training record book;
- Valid Medical Certificate in PEME format
For Revalidation
- Valid COP in ATLGTCO
- Medical Certificate in PEME format
- Approved seagoing service for a period of at least three (3) months in total within the last five (5) years prior to the date of revalidation in the capacity as Master, Chief Engineer Officer, Chief, or Second Engineer Officer, as appropriate, onboard Liquefied Gas Tanker, OR
- Certificate of Training Completion in ATLGTCO, if expired COP in ATLGTCO or if the applicant does not meet the required seagoing service.
Important:
Revalidation of ATLGT COP is for the Management Level only.
Replacement of COP
1. For seafarers applying personally:
- Duly notarized Affidavit in case of lost or damaged COP or if the COP has wrong information entry. (The Affidavit should state the circumstances of the loss or damage or the wrong details of information, and give a description of the certificate/s to be replaced.)
- Any government-issued identification document
2. In case the seafarer is onboard the ship:
- Letter from the concerned manning agency / crewing agency/ shipping company requesting for the replacement of the COP duly signed by the authorized official;
- Affidavit of Loss or Damage
- Employment contract approved by the POEA;
- Oath of undertaking; and
- Ship’s crew list
Effective August 20, 2019, your old training certificate is now eligible for COP application as long as it is within 5 years of its issuance.
However, these COPs shall have a validity of five (5) years from the date of the completion of the corresponding training.
For example, if you have a BTOCTCO certificate taken last 2015 which has no Certificate of Proficiency, you can now apply for a COP but its validity would be in 2020- five years from the issuance of your BTOCTCO certificate.
Do you have any questions? Comment down below!
May the winds be in your favor.
