MARINA clarifies: Seafarers with valid basic training can still board vessels

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) clarified that seafarers with a valid Basic Training (BT) Certificate of Proficiency (COP) may still board vessels without immediately undergoing the Updating Basic Training–Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (BT-PSSR).

MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan made the clarification in a press conference on Tuesday, during which the agency also provided updates on its transition of select functions from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Malaluan cited Marina Advisory 2025-40, which took effect on October 14, 2025. She said the BT-PSSR requirement does not apply immediately to seafarers already on board vessels before the advisory’s effectivity.

“Seafarers who are on board vessels prior to the effectivity of the advisory shall be required to undergo the updating training on BT-PSSR before their next embarkation or prior to their application for the revalidation of their COB-BT,” Malaluan said.

She said confusion arose when some seafarers were told to complete the updating immediately upon disembarkation or even while on vacation.

“Doon nagkakaroon ng confusion… Pagbaba nila, magbabakasyon, tapos sasabihin ay mag-updating ka muna bago magpunta sa pamilya. Hindi pa,” she said.

(That’s where the confusion happens – when they disembark and go on vacation, then they are told to take the updating before seeing their families. That is not required.)

Malaluan clarified that seafarers may complete the updating any time before their next contract or before applying for BT revalidation, noting that the BT certificate remains valid for several years.

“So kung nagbababa ngayon, nagbakasyon at nagpasko sa pamilya, puwede kayong mag-updating before your next embarkation or prior to your application for the revalidation of your COB-BT,” she said.

(If you disembarked, went on vacation, and spent the holidays with your family, you may undergo the updating before your next embarkation or before applying for revalidation.)

“May four years pa kayong puwedeng kumuha ng updating. Ito ‘yung confusion na nangyayari,” she added.

(You still have up to four years to complete the updating. That’s where the confusion comes from.)

However, Malaluan stressed that new seafarers are required to comply with the BT-PSSR before boarding vessels.

“Yung mga new seafarers, kailangan n’yo na bago kayo sumampa ngayon,” she said.

(New seafarers must complete the updating before boarding.)

For totally new entrants, the revised BT course already includes the updated PSSR component.

“Yung mga totally new seafarers, nung kinuha n’yo yung BT n’yo, kasama na doon yung updating PSSR,” Malaluan said.

(For totally new seafarers, the BT course already includes the PSSR updating.)

MARINA added that as of January 5, 2026, 61 maritime training institutions have been authorized to offer the one-day updated BT-PSSR, while 60 institutions are approved to conduct the Revised Basic Training full course.

More than 130,000 seafarers have already completed the updated BT-PSSR nationwide.

The agency reiterated that compliance must be guided strictly by official MARINA issuances and warned against the imposition of unauthorized requirements that would unnecessarily burden seafarers. — JMA, GMA Integrated News