OICEW Rommel Lesigues, SSO Pilot Class participant, demonstrates security inspection

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) through its Curriculum Development Section (CDS) successfully conducted a Pilot Class on Ship Security Officer (SSO) Course on 20-22 April 2021 at School Building No. 3, NMP Training Complex, Cabalawan, Tacloban City.

As part of the course package and as a requirement for the accreditation, the NMP-CDS designed the corresponding instructional materials and assessment tools in accordance with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) standard course plan.

The pilot class was conducted with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of the instructional materials and assessment tools developed. Also, with the end in view of ensuring that deficiencies and misalignments are identified and corrected prior to the offering of the course.

SSO Pilot Class Participants

Said activity was attended by twelve (12) participants and was facilitated by Capt. Lito C. Jain, NMP Instructor, and Capt. Chito A. Go, Head, CDS. It was also participated in by other NMP regular and guest instructors, some are accredited by MARINA to handle the said course.

SSO Course is intended for seafarers who are duly assigned as SSO by their shipping companies. The emphasis of the course deals with providing an in-depth knowledge and understanding on the duties and responsibilities of SSO with respect to the security of a ship and in ensuring the implementation of the ship security plan, thereby, addressing the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships.

The course also covers the evaluation of key shipboard operations, assessment of possible threats and vulnerabilities, establishment and prioritization of security measures and identification of weaknesses including human factors in the infrastructure, policies and procedures.

Meanwhile, with the inputs from the pilot-class, the NMP-CDS is on the process of finalizing the course package which will be submitted to the NMP Curriculum Review Committee (CRC) for review and subsequently to MARINA for accreditation.

“NMP always ensures that its courses are designed and structured in accordance with the standards of competence prescribed under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, 1978, as amended. In doing so, we assure all seafarers nothing but quality trainings delivered by NMP’s competent personnel” said NMP Deputy Executive Director Mayla N. Macadawan during the closing program.