Our Blog
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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 No. 2021-23 clarified that MLC and OLC as well as Electro-Technical Officers and Ratings courses (ETO &…
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MARINA Further Extends Validity of STCW Certificates to December 2021/ 2022
With their latest advisory, the Maritime Industry Authority( MARINA) further extends the validity of STCW Certificates up to December 2021 or December 2022. This could be a surprise for you but let’s dissect what the latest MARINA Advisory No. 2021-29 is telling us. There are two categories where your STCW extension falls. FIRST is when…
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💉 Joining a Ship During COVID-19: Seafarer Guide After Vaccination
The COVID-19 vaccine may have eased global restrictions, but seafarers still face strict protocols when joining their ships. This guide offers a firsthand look into the real-world experience of a vaccinated Filipino seafarer joining a vessel in Europe- what to prepare, what to expect, and what you must do to avoid delays. 📋 Pre-Departure Procedures…
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🛢 Types of Oil Tankers: From Handymax to ULCC Explained by Size and Purpose
Oil tankers are specialized ships built to transport petroleum- either crude oil or refined products, across oceans, canals, and inland waterways. These vessels are classified by size, function, and the type of cargo they carry, forming categories like Handymax, Aframax, VLCC, and ULCC. In this guide, you’ll learn the major types of oil tankers used…
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List of POEA/ DMW-Accredited Manning Agencies in the Philippines 2024
Our government manages a master list of DMW-accredited manning agencies (formerly POEA). It’s all made available online and free to access. Illegal recruiters often prey on unsuspecting seafarers. Thus, knowing if an agency is well registered in the POEA/ DMW database is the first step to thwart them. Many of these companies advertise their hiring…
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MARINA Training Institute (MarTI) Takes Off in Iloilo
The Maritime Industry Authority launched 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-story building at the MARINA Regional Office, Western Visayas branch inside Panaad Park, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.…
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MARINA-Approved Training Centers in Visayas and Mindanao 2024
Training centers in the Visayas and Mindanao regions prove to be helpful for seafarers since the majority live in provinces. However, there are only a few training centers in Manila and even outside Manila that are able to build branches in those areas. This could be due to the fact that many seafarers are highly…
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🚫 Ships Can’t Have Guns? Top Private Maritime Security Companies That Fill the Gap
Between 2009 and 2011, the maritime world saw a dramatic surge in piracy particularly off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. Merchant vessels, often slow and unarmed, became easy targets. With millions of dollars in ransoms at stake, the maritime industry faced a critical question: “If piracy is a real threat,…
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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 in my other article, hybrid learning is a combination of online learning and face-to-face education. The training is composed of two sets: an online class instruction and the practicum.…
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How Seafarers & OFWs Can Apply for an SSS Salary Loan Online
SSS Salary Loan is a program of our Social Security System that allows members to borrow a portion of their contribution for a short-term cash need. It is the most availed loan program of the SSS. Between January 2019 to August 2019, SSS released more than Php26.33 billion worth of salary loans. Of this figure,…