NMP continues to offer basic safety training for boat captain and marine diesel mechanic and basic safety training for motorboat operators, handlers and fishermen with typhoon preparedness

By National Maritime Polytechnic
June 30, 2015

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), a government maritime training and research agency located at Brgy. Cabalawan, this City, continues to offer the three-day Basic Safety Training (BST) intended to motorboat operators, handlers and fishermen and the one-day Basic Safety Training (BST) for boat captains and marine diesel mechanics.

These courses are regularly offered at the NMP Training Complex every semester. BST for boat captains and marine diesel mechanics costs P300.00 only while BST for motorboat operators, handlers and fishermen could be covered by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NMP and the concerned local government unit (LGU) and/or non-government organization (NGO).

Existing MOA with the LGU and/or NGO stipulates that it is their duty and responsibility to identify and invite participants to the training in coordination with NMP. They should also provide the financial and administrative support such as provision of snacks and meals of participants and shoulders 50% of the cost of dormitory fees if billeted in NMP. Further, they also submit the necessary qualifying documents of the participants such as medical certificates.

NMP, as the training provider, designs the training course tailored to the training needs of the participants in consultation with relevant external entities. It also provides the venue for training and support staff to assist in the duration of the activity; and funding for supplies, training materials for hand-outs of participants.

This course may include topics on Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Rules of the Road, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF), Elementary First Aid (EFA), Marine Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection, STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Maritime Sector (SHAPIMS), Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Maritime Sector (PADAMS), Marine Safety Regulations and Typhoon Preparedness. However, as previously mentioned, the modules/topics in this training vary depending on the knowledge, skill and attitude (KSA) needed by the participants.

In December 2014, NMP conducted this training to 19 fishermen beneficiaries of Burublig Para Ha Tanauan (BPHT), a non-profit non-governmental organization with charitable, service, participatory and empowering orientation, funded by private individuals, in aid to the communities of Tanauan, Leyte after the onslaught of the super-typhoon Yolanda.

In the interim, NMP is establishing linkage with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for a possible Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in the conduct of this training to at most 1,000 fishermen in Eastern Visayas who were victims of the devastation of super-typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Meanwhile, NMP is now offering three MARINA-accredited STCW courses, namely, Operational Use of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (OUECDIS), Ship Security Awareness Training and Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (SSAT and SDSD), and Consolidated Marine Pollution (MARPOL) 73/78 Annexes I-VI.

It also continues to offer its Faculty Development Courses (IMO Model Course 6.09 Training Course for Instructors; IMO Model Course 6.10 Training Course for Simulator Instructors and Assessors; and IMO Model Course 3.12 Assessment, Examination and Certification of Seafarers), and other upgrading courses for marine officers and ratings such as Marine Electrical System (MES), Marine Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (MRAC), Maritime Law for Ship’s Officers (MAR LAW), STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Maritime Sector (SHAPIMS), and Gender Sensitivity Training for Seafarers (GSTS). The training schedule for these courses is now available at NMP.