PRC to assess competence of merchant marine deck officers

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairman Hermogenes Pobre has announced the administration of practical examination/assessment of the competence of candidates in the Marine Deck Officers Licensure Examinations in the operational level starting with the July 2000 examination and for both Operational and Management Levels in October 2000.

The Board of Marine Deck Officers, which is under the supervision of the Commission, will conduct the practical examination/ assessment of examinees at the operational and management levels as provided for in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers in 1978, as amended in 1995.

The Board will conduct the first practical examination/assessment of marine deck officers in the operational level to those who will pass the written technical examination on July 1,2 and 3, in Manila and Davao and for both the management and operational levels to those who will pass the written technical examination on Oct. 24, 25 and 26 in Manila and Cagayan de Oro.

The rules state that all marine deck officers of the opeartional and management levels shall be required to take the practical examination/assessment on subjects where such examination/ assessment with the use of simulators is appropriate.

Only officers who passed the written technical examination in the operational and management levels, obtaining a general average rating of at least 70 percent in all the subjects of the written technical examination with no grade lower than 60 percent in any subject shall be allowed to take the practical examination/assessment.

The examinee's passing weighted general average rating shall be at least 70 percent which shall be computed as 70 percent for written technical examination and 30 percent for the practical examination/assessment.

An examinee whose weighted general average rating in both the written technical examination and in the practical examination/assessment is 70 percent or more but obtained a grade lower than 60 percent in any of the subjects/courses in the practical/assessment, must take the practical examination/assessment in the said subjects where he obtained a grade lower than 60 percent.

An examinee who fails three consecutive practical examinations/assessments must retake the practical examination / assessment after one year from the last examination/assessment.

Deadline for filing of applications for the July and October written technical examination is on June 13 and Oct. 4, respectively.

Those who will pass the written technical examination will take the practical examination/assessment in Manila one week after the release of the result of the written technical examination.

The schedule with the corresponding grouping shall be posted at the PRC offices within four days from the release of the results of the written examination.