The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has issued an urgent public advisory to all Filipino seafarers and maritime stakeholders, warning against the proliferation of unauthorized consultancy firms and service providers offering courses under the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers.
In its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the maritime profession, MARINA identified several entities that do not hold the necessary accreditation to conduct maritime training or assessment.
MARINA explicitly states that the following organizations are not recognized by the agency to offer STCW-related courses:
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Costa Maritime Training and Assessment
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Sea Eight Maritime Services
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Train with Qapla Maritime
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SEA LINK Maritime Services
The agency emphasized that any training or certifications obtained through these unauthorized providers will not be honored. Seafarers who engage with these services face severe consequences, including:
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Denial of Training Credits: Certificates issued by these entities will be rejected during the application for COCs (Certificates of Competency) and COPs (Certificates of Proficiency).
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Professional Liabilities: Use of unrecognized documents can lead to legal complications and may jeopardize a seafarer’s license and future employment.
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Financial Loss: Fees paid to these unaccredited institutions are non-refundable and result in a total loss of investment.
To safeguard the maritime career of every Filipino, MARINA urges all stakeholders to be highly analytical and vigilant. Before enrolling or paying any fees, seafarers must ensure that the Maritime Training Institution (MTI) is strictly MARINA-accredited. “The safety of our ships and the protection of our marine environment depend on the quality of training our seafarers receive. We cannot allow unauthorized entities to bypass the rigorous standards set by the STCW Convention,” the agency stated.
