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FORWARD:
The Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, as amended in 1995, prescribes minimum competency requirements for ratings performing II/4 for navigational watch and Regulation III/4 for engine watch.
All categories of support level personnel (ratings) who are expected to perform watchkeeping duties are therefore required to secure a Certificate of Competency (COC) to qualify them to become part of a navigational or engine watch.
The watchkeeping certificate is issued by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to any support level personnel who is able to demonstrate all the minimum competencies required for watch keepers, as provided for in Section A-II/4 and Section A-III of the STCW Code.
The Certificate of Competency for ratings forming part of a watch shall be issued primarily to an ordinary seaman, able-bodied seaman and to a boatswain (bosun) in the deck department and to a wiper, an oiler/motorman and to a fitter in the engine department.
Other support level personnel (including those in the stewarding services like a mess man and a cook) who are not expected to perform watchkeeping functions are not required under the STCW Convention to be certificated. However, those who fall under these categories have the option to apply for an appropriate Competency Certificate based on TESDA -promulgated standards which can enhance their employment qualifications.
Q: What is the legal mandate of TESDA in the assessment and certification of ratings?
A: Section 22 of Republic Act 7796 otherwise known as the TESDA Act of 1994 empowers TESDA to establish a national occupational skills standards and implement a certification and accreditation program in which private industry groups and trade associations are accredited to conduct competency assessment.
Executive Order N. 242 provides that TESDA, by virtue of its mandate under RA 7796, shall issue the Certificate of Competency to ratings forming part of navigational and engineering watches.
Moreover, MTC Resolution No. 5, series of 2000 provides that TESDA shall take over the responsibility of issuing ratings certificates under Regulation II/4 and III/4 of the STCW convention, as amended, starting January 2001.
Q: Who may apply for a Rating's Certificate?
A: Experienced ratings and new graduates of the TESDA-prescribed Ratings Course may apply for assessment and certification.
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