TACLOBAN CITY – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), in its desire to meet the growing demand for safe emergency response and passenger control during emergency situations on board passenger ships, developed two (2) new Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) courses, namely: Safety Training for Personnel Providing Direct Service to Passengers in Passenger Spaces (STPPDSPPS) and Passenger Ship Crisis Management and Human Behaviour Training (PSCMHBT).
Upon successfully completing the course design & development and fulfilling all necessary requirements, a pilot class was conducted on 04 June 2022 attended by 17 participants composed of NMP seafarer-trainees and instructors serving as validators who assessed the effectiveness and feasibility of the courses. Following the review and integration of necessary inputs gained from the said activity into the Course Plans and Instructional Materials (IMs), the course packages and their corresponding documentary requirements were submitted to MARINA for accreditation.
After the thorough assessment by MARINA, the courses were deemed compliant with all the requirements, thus, received approval, resulting to their accreditation with a validity period from November 23, 2022 to November 23, 2025.
The STPPDSPPS aims to educate the participants on emergency communication with crew and passengers, demonstrate proper use of personal life-saving equipment, and outline procedures for boarding and exiting passengers with particular emphasis on accommodating those with disabilities or special needs.
While PSCMHBT course covers various competencies, including organizing shipboard emergency procedures, optimizing resource usage, controlling emergency response, managing passengers and personnel during emergency situations and establishing effective communication. The purpose is to empower trainees with the skills to effectively organize shipboard emergency procedures, make optimal use of resources, control emergency response, manage passengers and personnel during emergencies, and establish effective communication channels.
NMP continues to be at the forefront of maritime training and education, and these new courses further demonstrate its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of the industry. The expanded training offerings will benefit the maritime industry by providing personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers on board ships, and will also ensure compliance with international regulations.
Moreover, the NMP Board of Trustees (BOT) Meeting scheduled within the 1st Quarter of CY 2023 will feature the presentation of these courses with the aim of determining their respective training fees and gaining approval for offering the courses.