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The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has acknowledged the training of maritime instructors recently conducted by the state-run Maritime Training Council as one of the legitimate compliance efforts with the requirements of the revised Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.
MTC executive director Lorna Fajardo said IMO's cognizance of the training course conducted in Manila from August 14-25 was significant because the Philippines has plenty of schools offering maritime training and upgrading courses.
Asian maritime instructors from countries like Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam participated in the 10-day training course.
As part of the compliance efforts, the STCW requirements cover the qualifications of seafarers before they assume duties onboard ships, the qualifications of maritime instructors and assessors and the qualifications and subsequent capabilities of individuals and entities involved in the education, training, and certification of seafarers.
Fajardo said the Philippines is the only country taken cognizance of by the IMO for conducting IMO Model Course 6.09 in accordance with the UN body's standards.
The training seminar was not the first to be held in the Philippines. In 1996, MTC in collaboration with IMO conducted three pilot classes in the training course for maritime instructors using the model course for instructors teaching maritime subjects in maritime schools and training centers.
They were held in Cagayan de Oro for the Mindanao area, National Maritime Polytechnic in Tacloban City for the Visayas area, and at the Magsaysay School of Shipping in Dasmarinas, Cavite for Luzon area.
Subsequent classes were supervised by the MTC, which were conducted by the Philippine Association of Maritime Training Centers Inc., and the Development Academy of the Philippines. Thus, for 1,600 maritime instructors have taken training course to qualify them to teach maritime courses in schools and training centers.
MTC's training course using IMO Model Course 5.0 has been adopted by the government in the qualification process of instructors who will teach maritime degree and training courses.
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