The importance of basic training for ship employment

The National Maritime Polytechnic underscores the importance of training

The basic safety training course is being underscored by the National Maritime Polytechnic in Eastern Visayas for those planning to seek employment in a ship.

Presca Lee Lugo, NMP officer-in-charge/executive director, stressed that basic safety training course should be taken as it is a requirement for employment in a ship regardless if it is a cargo or cruise ship.

Employment in cargo ship includes seafarers, and for cruise ships are the waiters, bartenders, crew and performers.

Lugo added that maritime instructors and assessors also undergo the course training at the NMP since it is required by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Maritime Training Council.

It was learned that NMP also conducts off-site training for maritime instructors and assessors which explains the increase of enrollees at the maritime polytechnic. Presently, NMP has an off-site training in Tagbiliran, Bohol for maritime instructors and in Makati for simulator instructors.

Even a seaman who decides to teach in maritime schools or maritime training centers is still required to undergo training as CHED, TESDA and MTC will not allow nor grant a teaching permit without undergoing the training course.

Lugo also disclosed that the most number of enrollees at NMP are those in basic safety training and that last year the maritime school was able to certify more than 19,000 trainees.

Source: PIA