Recognizing the restriction this pandemic has brought us, MARINA extends the validity of the expiring Seaman’s Book for all Filipino seafarers.
The Maritime Industry Authority, through its Advisory No. 2020-67, auto-renews all Seafarer’s Record Book (SRB) and Seafarer’s Identification Record Book (SIRB) expiring between March 13, 2020 to December 31, 2020 for another 12 months from the date of its expiration.
Short Recap
Late last year, the single SIRB document was upgraded and became the SRB and SID. The SRB retains the record function of our sea service while the SID “serves” the identification part.
All SIRB, SRB, and SID (Seafarer’s Identity Document) are three standalone documents.
Also note that last June 2016, our seaman’s book validity was extended from 5 (five) years to ten (10) years. Therefore, most of us may still have our SRB or SIRB valid this year.
Tunay na Bayani
“Our seafarers are essential workers. Frontliners sila. Kailangan nating protektahan ang kanilang trabaho at kalusugan. Ang laki ng tulog nila sa ating ekonomiya. Sila ay mga tunay na bayani.”
MARINA Administrator.
Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad
Further Guidance on Expiring Seaman’s Book Auto-renewals
Filipino seafarers could not disembark their vessels and be safely repatriated due to several countries imposing travel restrictions.
Fortunately, maritime authorities and stakeholders recognized this challenge and acted proactively.
Longer extension of expired and expiring seaman’s book is just one of the solutions to keep this global trade running.
Today, MARINA and its satellite offices are open for processing seaman’s books and STCW Certificates.
Thus, the advisory also directs seafarers who are not on board to renew their SIRB/ SRB six months prior to its expiration.
Role of Manning Agencies
Whether on board or ashore, your SIRB/ SRB is renewed automatically without the need to file for an application in MARINA.
This Advisory includes both domestic and overseas seafarers either on board or ashore.
However, your concerned manning/ crewing agencies and shipping companies must submit a list of their crew members who extended their SIRB/ SRB pursuant to this Advisory.
They shall submit an electronic copy of the said information via email to [email protected] using the template in Annex A.
More Auto-extensions
A few days ago, MARINA also extended the expiration of COP, COC, and COE of all STCW certificates expiring between 13 March 2020 to 31 December 2020.
This is in solidarity with IMO’s Circular requiring member states to adopt resolutions helping seafarers with a proactive approach to the extension of their certificates and other maritime documents.
Final Thought
Because of the pandemic, the auto-renewal of certificates and seaman’s books is now happening not only here in the Philippines but to the whole maritime community.
In our country alone, MARINA introduced blended learning so we can renew our STCW certificates much faster.
This sweeping change in the way we conduct things slowly transforms us from offline to online digital format.
Before, processing of seaman’s book and passport was purely on-site. Now, we are doing half of the procedures online.
Our expiring seaman’s book and STCW Certificates could be an “experiment” to process our documents 80 to 100% online.
Do you think that conducting blended training is better and won’t degrade the competence of seafarers?
May the winds be in your favor
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