Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION
b

CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER (CMO)

No. 02
Series of 2012

SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES ON THE SHIPBOARD TRAINING

REQUIREMENT FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
MARINE TRANSPORTATION (BSMT) AND BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN MARINE ENGINEERING (BSMARE) PROGRAMS

In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 7722,
otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994", the International Convention on
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of 1978, as amended
(STCW Convention), by virtue of the 384th Commission en banc Resolution No. 323 —
2011 dated December 16 201 1 , and in aid of promoting quality maritime education
programs in compliance with the STCW Convention, this set of implementing guidelines
on the shipboard training requirement for BSMT and BSMarE programs are hereby
adopted and promulgated by the Commission, thus:

ARTICLE I
POLICY, LEGAL BASIS AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1. Statement of Policies and Legal Bases —
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) upholds Section 1, Article XIV of the
1987 Constitution as well as the declared policy of the State to protect, foster and
promote the right of all citizens to affordable quality education at all levels and to take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

The Commission likewise recognizes that maritime education, training and

certification is a matter of national interest and that protecting, fostering and promoting
its quality is an international obligation as a Party to the STCW Convention, the
Philippines being a signatory thereof. Hence, CHED shall ensure that maritime higher
education institutions (HEts) offering BSMT and BSMarE programs shall fully comply with
the Commission and the STCW Convention and Code requirements.
Therefore, CHED under Section 8, [d] and [e] of RA 7722 shall undertake the
following:

'Section 8.
 d) set minimum standards for programs and institutions of higher
learning recommended by panels of experts in the field and subject to
public hearing, and enforce the same;

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Higher Education Development Center Building, C.P. Garcia Ave., UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Web Site: www.ched.gov.ph Tel. Nos. 441-1177, 441-1169. 441-1149. 441-1170. 441-1216, 392-5296
e) monitor and evaluate the perfonnance of programs and institutions of
higher Gaming for appropriate incentives as well as the imposition of
sanctions such as, but not limited to, diminution or withdrawal of subsidy,
recommendation on the downgrading or withdrawal of accreditation,
program tennination or school closure. . . . "x

Section 2. Objectives of Shipboard Training —

Shipboard Training is a mandatory requirement and component of the BSMT and
BSMarE programs that pertains to the required seagoing service as provided under
Regulation 11/1 and Regulation 1 1 1/1 of the STCW Convention. This requirement aims
to ensure that every BSMT and BSMarE student shall have the opportunity to:

1. For BSMT cadet students:

1.1 undergo an approved seagoing service of not less than 12
months which includes onboard training that meets the
requirements of Section A-Il/l of the STCW Code documented in
an approved training record book (TRB), or otherwise an
approved seagoing service of not less than 36 months; and,
1.2 perform, during the required seagoing service, bridge
watchkeeping duties under the supervision of the master or a
qualified officer for a period of not less than six (6) months;

2. For BSMarE cadet students:

2.1 undergo a combined workshop skills training and an approved
seagoing service of not less than 12 months which includes
onboard training that meets the requirements of Section A-Ill/l
of the STCW Code documented in an approved TRB, or
otherwise a combined workshop skills training and an approved
seagoing service of not less than 36 months of which not less
than 30 months shall be seagoing service in the engine
department; and,

2.2 perform, during the required seagoing service, engine-room

watchkeeping duties under the supervision of the chief
engineer officer or a qualified engineer officer for a period of
not less than six (6) months,

ARTICLE Il
CATEGORIES OF SHIPBOARD TRAINING
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Section 3. Shipboard Training Category —
Pursuant to the STCW Convention and Code, shipboard training shall be
categorized into either: (a) twelve (12) months seagoing service or (b) thirty six (36)
months seagoing service that could be undertaken by the BSMT and BSMarE cadet
students in order to complete the requirements for the conferment of a Bachelor's
degree in Marine Transportation or in Marine Engineering, respectively and to be
qualified for certification as an Ofter-ln-Charge of a watch, to wit:

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a. Twelve (12) months seagoing service

I, For BSMT cadet students, refers to an approved seagoing service of not

less than 12 months in a cadet or apprentice position which includes
onboard training that meets the requirements of Section A-Il/l of the
STCW Code, documented in an approved TRB and at least six (6)
months of which shall involve the performance of bridge watchkeeping
duties under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer.

2. For BSMarE cadet students, refers to a combined workshop skills

training and an approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months
in a cadet or apprentice position which includes onboard training that
meets the requirements of Section A-Ill/l of the STCW Code,
documented in an approved TRB and at least six (6) months of which
shall involve the performance of engine watchkeepjng duties under
the supervision of the chief engineer officer or a qualified engineer
officer.

b. Thirty six (36) months seagoing service

For BSMT cadet students, refers to an approved seagoing service of not
less than 36 months in a position other than a cadet or apprentice (e.g.
general purpose - deck, deck boy, ordinary seaman, able seaman,
quarter-master, boatswain) provided, at least six (6) months of which
shall involve the pefformance of bridge watchkeeping duties under the
supervision of the master or a qualified officer. This would be
documented through the service record issued by the
shipping/manning company to the student cadet concerned.

2. For BSMarE cadet students, refers to a combined workshop skills

training and an approved seagoing service of not less than 36 months
in a position other than a cadet or apprentice (e.g. general purpose —
engine, engine boy, engine fitter, wiper, oiler, motorman, pumpman,
able seaman engine) provided, at least six (6) months of which shall
involve the performance of engine watchkeeping duties under the
supervision of the chief engineer officer or a qualified engineer officer.
This would be documented through the service record issued by the
shipping/manning company to the student cadet concemed.

ARTICLE Ill
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 GUIDELINES
Section 4. General Requirements —
All maritime higher education institutions (HE's) offering BSMT and/or BSMarE
program shall be required to:
Ensure that qualified students completing the academic requirements for
their bachelor's degree (BSMT or BSMarE) are provided with opportunities to get
cadetship/apprenticeship through linkages or partnership with manning/shipping
companies. The linkage or partnership shall be supported by a notarized
Memorandum of Agreement or Understanding (MOA/MOU) between the
maritime HEI and the partner company/entity. Ptovided that, maritime HEIS shall
also have the option to provide their own Training Ship. The said training ship
shall comply with the basic requirements for training in terms of gross tonnage
(500 GT or more) and propulsion power (750 kw or more). Provided further, that
in order to improve the shipboard training or cadetship program. maritime HEIs,
on its own initiative, may further engage in other arrangements such as: (I)
government programs like assistance to provide a Training Ship for use by
participating group or consortium Of HEIs; (2) mandatory and cadetship program
on board foreign vessels manned by Filipino seafarers: (3) through linkages with
domestic and foreign shipping companies for Scholarship and/or onboard
cadetship program for sponsored cadets; and, (4) other relevant schemes as may
be possible.
2. Have and maintain a shipboard training office:
3. Specify in their quality standard system (OSS) the policies and procedures
pertaining to the enrollment, embarkation. disembarkation, validation of
TRB and approval of twelve months seagoing service. validation and
approval of the thirty six months seagoing service and the assessment of
student cadets for shipboard training purposes;

4. Provide guidance and thorough orientation/familiarization of all its BSMT

and/or BSMarE students about the twelve (12) months seagoing sentice
especially on the proper way of accomplishing and filling-in of entries in
the approved TRB and the thirty six (36) months seagoing service should
the students be employed in a position other than a cadet or apprentice;
5. Ensure that all student cadets undergoing a twelve (12) months seagoing
service shall be issued an approved TRB before embarkation;
6. Conduct validation of the duly accomplished and signed TRBs (for the
twelve (12) months seagoing service) or the sea-going service (for the
thirty six (36) months seagoing service) and the assessment of täSkS
performed and competencies acquired during his/her seagoing service.
The result of such validation and assessment shall be duly recorded and
must form part of the students' record at the maritime HEI concerned.
The duty validated TRB must be returned to the student cadet after the
validation/assessment; and.
7, Confer appropriate degree (BSMT or BSMarE) to qualified student cadets.

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 In case of transfer of a student cadet, maritime HE's must strictly observe the
provisions under Sections 95 and 96 of the Manual of Regulations for Private Higher
Education of 2008 (MORPHE).

Section 5. Shipboard Training Office —

The shipboard training office shall be responsible for the administration and
coordination of the activities and other requirements for student cadets undergoing the
shipboard training. Specifically, this Office shall:

1, Arrange for and facilitate the embarkation of student cadets;

2. Conduct thorough orientation/familiarization of student cadets
pertaining to: the difference between the twelve (12) months and
the thirty six (36) months seagoing service; enrollment for shipboard
training purposes; the proper way of accomplishing and filling-in of
entries in the TRB, validation of the TRB and the sea-going service,
and the assessment of student cadets, among others;
3, Ensure that all student cadets undergoing a twelve (12) months seagoing
service shall be issued an approved TRB before their embarkation:
4. Conduct briefing of cadets for embarkation:
5. Coordinate with the shipping company and/or manning agency where the
shipboard training is being undertaken;
6. Provide necessary assistance to student cadets undergoing the
shipboard training:
7. Conduct debriefing. validation of the TRB and the sea-going service, and
assessment of cadets after disembarkation; and,
8. Keep records of the linkages or partnerships with shipping companies
and/or manning agencies that the maritime HEI has established. the results
of cadets' assessment as well as the validation of TRBs and other pertinent
records relating to shipboard training.

In order to strengthen the shipboard training office, maritime HEIS shall provide
for sufficient means and support to the Shipboard Training Officer (STO). The said office
must have:
1. A separate workplace for shipboard training purposes with an area of at
least 20 sq.m.
2. At least 1 staff dedicated to support the STO for every 500 candidate
students for shipboard training must be maintained,
3. Enough resources and facilities to support its effective and efficient
operation, such as but not limited to:
at least one (1) set of computer unit with internet
connection; tables and chairs; at least one (1) telephone
line with fax machine:
a bulletin board.
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Section 6. Minimum Qualifications of a Shipboard Training Officer —
An HEI offering BSMT and/or BSMarE program shall be required to have a
fulltime Shipboard Training Officer (STO) who shall be in-charge and responsible for the
effective and efficient operation of the Shipboard Training Office, especially the
embarkation of cadets for shipboard training purposes. The STO must possess the
following minimum qualifications:

Page 6
 1 . must be at least a holder of valid PRC license as an Officer-ln-Charge
(OIC) of a watch and with at least 12 months of seagoing experience
as an Officer;
2. have completed training in IMO Model Course 3.12 (Assessor's
Training Course); and,
3. preferably, have gained practical assessment experience.

The STO may be given a maximum teaching load of 24 hours a week provided
that, he shall comply with the required qualifications of a faculty handling professional
subjects.

Section 7. Requirements to Ensure Genuineness and Authenticity of the

TRB —
Every maritime HEI together with the STO shall at all times be responsible to
ensure that only approved and genuine TRB shall be issued to the student cadets
undergoing a twelve (12) months seagoing service. Hence, in order to ensure the
genuineness of the TRB that would be presented by the cadets after completing the
required sea-going service, and for purposes of validation, assessment, and issuance of
Special Order (SO) for graduation, all maritime HEIS shall be required to comply with
the following:
1. All pages of the TRB must be stamped with the Student Number of the
cadet to whom it would be issued;
2. Information such as name of the issuing maritime HEI and the name
and student number of the cadet to whom the TRB would be issued
must also be stamped at a conspicuous page, preferably next to the
front page of the TRB.
Maritime HEIS are also required to submit to the CHED Regional Office (CHEDRO)
concerned an official list of cadet students that have been issued a TRB at the end of
every semester, indicating among others, the name and student number of the cadets
and other pertinent information thereof. The duly submitted list shall be the primary
basis of the CHEDRO in determining the authenticity of the TRB that would be
presented for the issuance of SO for graduation of the candidate BSMT and/or BSMarE
students.

Section 8. Validation of TRB and Approval of Twelve Months Seagoing

Service —
After completion of the twelve (12) months seagoing service, every student
cadet shall be required to report to the shipboard training office of the maritime HEI
concerned within 30 days after disembarkation for debriefing, validation of TRB,
approval of the twelve months seagoing service and assessment purposes. The

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following documents must be submitted together with the cadet's TRB for validation
and approval of seagoing service and to qualify for assessment:

1. Certificate of Sea service in a Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

form or a Certificate issued by the shipping/manning company stating to
the effect that student cadet concemed has actually performed the
required six months bridge or engine watchkeeping duties;
2. Seafarer's Identification and Record Book (SIRS or Seaman's Book); and,
3. Passport with immigration stamp of departure and arrival for ocean-going
sea service or Crew List with Company stamp and Coast Guard stamp for
domestic sea service.
The twelve months seagoing service shall only be approved after the student
cadet concerned has presented the aforementioned documents. Only student cadet
with approved seagoing service shall qualify for assessment.

Pursuant to Section 4 [3] of this CMO, the policies and procedures pertaining to
the validation of TRB and approval of the twelve months seagoing service as specified
under the QSS of the maritime HEI concemed shall be followed. Moreover, it is required
that a "Certificate of Validation and Approval" of the cadets' TRB and twelve months
seagoing service be issued by the STO which shall also be submitted to the CHEDRO to
support as basis for the issuance of SO for graduation of the candidate BSMT and/or
BSMarE students.

Section 9. Validation and approval of the Thirty Six Months Seagoing Service —
In case the BSMT and BSMarE students were not able to undergo a twelve (12)
months seagoing service in a cadet or apprentice position, but completed at least thirty
six (36) months seagoing service as provided under Section 3 [b] of these guidelines, the
following documents must be submitted to the shipboard training office for the
validation and approval of the cadets' seagoing service in order to qualify for
assessment, conferment of a bachelor's degree and to qualify for licensure examination
and certification as an Officer-in-Charge of a watch:
1 . Certificate of Sea Service duly signed by the Master or CIE with the ship's
stamp and/or countersigned by responsible officer of local crewing or
manning agency of the ship in lieu of the TRB, which should include the
following information:

1 . 1 Vessel name and type;

1 .2 Gross tonnage;
1 .3 Ship's particulars;
1 .4 Propulsion power in kilowatt;
1 .5 IMO number (to ensure that the vessel is duly registered); an
1 .6 Length of service (date signed on and date signed off) and the
position/capacity held; and,

Page 8 of 11
 1 .7 a statement to the effect that student cadet concerned has
actually performed the required six months bridge or engine
watchkeeping duties;
2. Seafarer's Identification and Record Book (SIRB or Seaman's Book); and,
3. Passport with immigration stamp of departure and arrival for ocean-going
sea service or Crew List with Company stamp and Coast Guard stamp for
domestic sea service.

The thirty six (36) months seagoing service shatt only be approved after the
student cadet concerned has presented the aforementioned documents. Only student
cadet with approved seagoing service shall qualify for assessment.
The policies and procedures pertaining to the validation and approval of the
thirty six months éeagoing service as specified under the QSS of the maritime HEI
concerned shall be followed. Moreover, it is required that a 'Certificate of Validation
and Approval" of the cadets' seagoing service shall be issued by the STO which shall be
submitted to the CHEDRO together with the necessary documents for the issuance of
SO for graduation of the candidate BSMT and/or BSMarE students.

Section 10. Assessment of Student Cadets —

As a general rule, only student cadets with a duly validated TRB or seagoing
service may qualify to undergo an assessment of the tasks performed and
competencies acquired during the required seagoing service at the HEI's shipboard
training office. Student cadets who qualify for assessment must follow the pertinent
assessment policies and procedures specified under the QSS of the maritime HEI
concerned. The methods of assessing the cadets' competencies shall be done through:

1. Written or computerized examination. The written or computerized

examination shall be designed in accordance with the pertinent
requirements under Section A-IMI and Section A-Ill/l of the STCW Code
for BSMT and BSMarE, respectively; and,

2. An interview (oral assessment) on the TRB completed entries and the Sea
Projects by a Panel composed of the Dean, STO, and at 'east one (1)
qualified faculty member from the MHEI concerned.

In the case of student who completed the thirty six (36) months seagoing
service, the same assessment methods shall be adopted except that the panel
interview should focus mainly on the relevant tasks performed in the particular position
or capacity as indicated in the Certificate of Sea Service of the student concerned.

The written or computerized examination as well as the panel interview (oral

assessment) shall aim to ensure and demonstrate that the student being assessed has
acquired the necessary competencies for an Officer-in-Charge of a watch.
For grading purposes, the maritime HEI concerned may consider giving 50%
weight percentage for the written exam and another 50% for the panel interview to be
summed-up as the student's final grade.

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 The assessment results shall be recorded and signed by the assessor and
consolidated by the STO who shall sign the official grading sheet of the student
cadets to be submitted to the HE"s registrar.

Section ll. Remedial —

If in any case, the result of an assessment indicates that the student cadet did
not gain the competencies required under the STCW Convention and Code, the
maritime HEI may, at its discretion, institute appropriate remedial measures or
activities/workshops in order for the student to rectify any deficiencies noted.
Thereafter, the student concerned shall be required to undergo reassessment based on
Section 10 of this CMO to determine if he has fully acquired the necessary
competencies.

ARTICLE tv
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sectlon 12. Sanctions -
For violation of the foregoing policies and guidelines, CHED shall impose
sanctions, as it may deem appropriate pursuant to Republic Act No. 7722 [Higher
Education Act of 1994], Batas Pambansa Bilang 232 [The Education Act of 1982],
CMO No. 40, s. 2008 [Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education of 2008
(MORPHE)I and all other applicable CHED rules and regulations and legislations.

Section 13. Separabllity Clause —

If any part or provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the
same shall apply only to that part or provision. The remainder shall remain valid and in
force.

Section 14. Repealing Clause —

This CMO repeals Sections 16, 17, and 26 of CMO No. 13, series 2005 as
well as any amendment thereof as provided for under CMO No. 20, series of
2010. Likewise, all other existing Orders and Memoranda issued by the
Commission, which are contrary to, or inconsistent with any of the provisions of
this CMC), are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 15. Effectivity —

This CMO shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication as required by
law and shall be fully implemented starting First Semester of School Year (SY)
20122013.

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Quezon City, Philippines, January 26, 2012.

For the C mmission:

PATRICIA B. LICUANAN, Ph.D.

Chairperson

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