How to Become a Seafarer in the Philippines: A Practical Guide

Eve Church
04 Sep, 2025
07 Mins read

A bulk carrier called Martide flying the flag of the Philippines

Are you thinking about embarking on a seafaring career from the Philippines? You’re in good company - your country is one of the world’s leading sources of maritime talent.

In this guide, we’re going to walk budding seafarers through the Philippine-specific education, training, certification, and documentation you’ll typically need to work on commercial vessels.

We’ve designed this to be practical and neutral about ship type or employer, so you can use it as a roadmap from senior high school through your first contracts and beyond. Which – we hope – you will find through Martide! Check out our seafarer job vacancies here to see what you can expect.

Which seafaring paths can you take?

Filipino seafarers usually enter through one of three technical streams:

Deck (Navigation/Operations): Bridge watchkeeping, cargo handling, navigation (including ECDIS and radar), safety, and compliance.
Engine (Marine Engineering): Propulsion, power generation, maintenance, diagnostics, energy efficiency, and environmental systems.
Electro-Technical (ETO): Electrical power, electronics, automation/controls, communications, and navigation equipment.

You can join at rating level (e.g., as an Ordinary Seaman or a Wiper) and upgrade seafarer ranks later or you can follow the Officer Cadet route directly (Deck/Engine/ETO).

a man in a ship engine room cleaning the engine

What should budding seafarers study in senior high school in the Philippines?

Under the K–12 system, aim to build a solid base in:

Mathematics and Physics/Science: For stability, navigation, thermodynamics, and machinery.
English/Communication: Maritime English and clear written/spoken reports are essential onboard.
ICT/Digital Literacy: Bridges and engine rooms are highly digital; comfort with software and data entry helps.
Bonus subjects: Technical drawing/CAD, basic electronics, and geography/meteorology are useful.

In the Philippines some schools offer Maritime Specialization strands – definitely take advantage of these if they’re available.

Officer route: maritime higher education + cadetship

As a Filipino, if you’re looking to work as an Officer of the Watch (OIC-NW for Deck, OIC-EW for Engine, or ETO), you will typically:

Enroll in an approved maritime program
1. BS Marine Transportation (BSMT) for Deck,
2. BS Marine Engineering (BSMarE) for Engine, or
3. an approved Electro-Technical program for ETO.

Choose a MARINA/CHED-recognized maritime higher education institution (MHEI). Approved status matters when you start applying for certificates later.

students in a maritime training classroom

Complete STCW Basic Training (BT) early on

This usually includes Personal Survival, Fire Prevention/Firefighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities, and Security Awareness/Designated Duties (if required).

Undertake shipboard cadet training (sea phase)

You’ll embark on a structured cadetship (traditionally this is approximately 12 months total across one or more deployments, depending on the program and company), and you’ll complete a Training Record Book signed by the ship’s officers.

Finish additional mandatory courses

Some examples include: ECDIS, Radar/ARPA, BRM for Deck; Engine Room Resource Management, High-Voltage Safety for Engine/ETO; GMDSS for deck officers on GOC/ROC tracks; and Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (PSCRB), Advanced Firefighting (AFF), Medical First Aid/Medical Care for higher certificates.

Assessment & certification with MARINA

The Philippines Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) - which is designated by law as the country’s STCW administration - handles theoretical/practical assessments and issues Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP). Passing the assessments and proving sea time are key steps to your first license (OIC-NW / OIC-EW / ETO).

Progression

After more sea time, refresher/advanced courses, and further assessments, you should be in a great place and ready to upgrade to Chief Officer/Second Engineer, and ultimately Master/Chief Engineer.

a female seafarer working in a marine officer job on the bridge of a ship

Rating route: TESDA qualifications + sea time

If you want to start earning sooner rather than later, you could start your maritime career as a rating and then look at upgrading to a higher rank as you progress. In which case you should:

Complete pre-sea and STCW Basic Training

Add Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) or Ratings Forming Part of an Engine Watch (RFPEW), usually through TESDA-recognized programs and approved training centers.

Obtain TESDA National Certificates (as applicable)

Many Filipino ratings pursue Able Seafarer Deck (ASD) NC II or Able Seafarer Engine (ASE) NC II after gaining sea service and passing assessments. Catering roles may pursue Ship’s Catering Services NCs.

Join as Ordinary Seaman/Wiper/Motorman/Cook, then upgrade

With sufficient documented sea time and additional courses, you can later qualify to sit for officer assessments with MARINA.

This maritime career pathway suits hands-on learners and those who are balancing their finances while studying.

What documents and medicals will you need for Filipino seafarer jobs?

Before deployment, prepare (this is a typical list - your manning agency will guide you on specifics):

Passport with adequate validity.
Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) (“ seaman’s book ”) from MARINA.
MARINA CoC/CoP corresponding to your rank/role and ship type.
Seafarer Medical Certificate / PEME from a DOH-accredited maritime clinic (conforming to MLC 2006). Expect vision (including color vision checks for deck jobs), hearing, and general fitness checks.
Vaccinations/Yellow Card as routes require - these will be company, flag, and/or port specific.
NBI clearance and other background checks where requested.
Visas depending on trading areas.
DMW/OWWA requirements (e.g., e-registration, contract processing, PDOS/SOS as applicable). Licensed manning agencies in the Philippines typically coordinate Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and contract processing with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Top tip: Keep scanned copies and uploaded copies in Martide, and multiple hard copies of everything!

an open laptop with Martide's seafarer jobs website on the screen

Which add-on endorsements should Filipino seafarers consider?

As someone looking for a seafarer job in the Philippines, you should choose endorsements that are aligned with the type of vessels that you want to work on. This will help to improve your employability:

Tanker Familiarization (oil/chemical/LPG/LNG) and Advanced Tanker for senior roles (STCW Reg. V/1-1 & V/1-2).
Passenger Ship training (crowd/crisis management) for ferries/cruise ships.
High-Voltage (for engineers/ETOs on modern tonnage).
DP (Dynamic Positioning) for offshore vessels (via Nautical Institute-approved scheme).
Ship Security Officer (SSO), Designated Security Duties (DSD) if required.
Refresher training (e.g., BT, AFF, PSCRB) every 5 years as required by STCW.

Endorsements are often company-sponsored once you’re hired for a job at sea, but already holding relevant ones can really help to fast-track your deployment.

What does seafarer assessment and licensing look like in the Philippines?

MARINA STCW Office (STCWO) oversees examinations/assessments and issues CoC/CoP.
You’ll need to meet sea service minimums (varies by certificate), complete approved courses, and pass theoretical/practical assessments.
Training must be from MARINA-approved providers; stick to accredited centers to avoid problems when upgrading later.

Tip: Keep your sea service letters accurate (vessel name/IMO, GT/kW, dates, rank/duties, trading area) and signed by authorized officers. Your future upgrades depend on clean documentation!

a bulk carrier at sea at sunset

What do maritime employers in the Philippines look for beyond certificates?

Good English and SMCP (Standard Marine Communication Phrases).
Safety mindset and teamwork - resource management is part of modern operations.
Digital comfort - from ECDIS updates and PMS entries to e-mail handovers.
Professional attitude - punctuality, respect for multicultural crews, and willingness to learn.
Clean medical history compatible with sea service, and readiness for random drug/alcohol testing per company policy.

Some employers will ask you to take various company tests, such as Marlins, CES, or technical quizzes. Officers maybe put through simulator assessments.

How long will it take from school to seafarer job in the Philippines?

Timelines will vary by school, maritime job vacancies, and the speed at which you study, but a rough guide for Filipino seafarers is:

Rating route: Weeks to a few months for pre-sea + STCW → join as OS/Wiper → upgrade with sea time.
Officer cadet: Often 2–3+ years including college terms, required courses, and shipboard cadet sea phase before OIC assessment.
ETO: Similar to officer timelines, especially if bridging from an electrical/electronics qualification to maritime modules.

And don’t forget to plan for periodic refresher courses and upgrades throughout your maritime career.

Typical step-by-step checklist for seafarer jobs in the Philippines

Choose your stream: Deck, Engine, or ETO.
Select a MARINA/CHED-recognized school (BSMT/BSMarE/ETO) or TESDA route for ratings.
Complete STCW Basic Training at an approved center.
Secure your medical (DOH-accredited PEME/MLC).
Apply for your SIRB (seaman’s book) with MARINA.
Land a cadetship or rating berth via a DMW-licensed manning agency.
Finish your sea phase and complete your Training Record Book.
Take additional mandatory courses (ECDIS, BRM/ERRM, PSCRB, AFF, GMDSS, HV, etc., as required).
Sit MARINA assessments and obtain your CoC/CoP.
Maintain/refresh certificates, add endorsements (tanker, passenger, DP), and build sea time toward higher licenses.

a young seafarer on a container ship checking a clipboard

Practical tips to stand out when looking for maritime jobs in the Philippines

Target a fleet early. If you want to work on tankers, get basic tanker familiarization; for cruise ships/ferries, take passenger ship courses.
Keep a document binder with originals and certified copies; maintain a digital backup. (In Martide!)
Record everything at sea. Sea time, drills, duties, and competencies signed off - do not leave this to memory.
Watch validity dates. Don’t let your medical, SIRB, or CoPs lapse while you’re away working at sea.
Choose accredited centers. MARINA-approved training and DMW-licensed agencies protect your time and money.

Seafarer jobs in the Philippines: the bottom line

The Philippine pathway to a maritime career at sea is well-established and internationally respected. Whether you begin as a rating or as a cadet, the combination of approved training, documented sea service, and MARINA certification will carry you from your first contract up to more senior ranks.

Focus on strong fundamentals (math, science, English), build good habits around safety and documentation, and choose endorsements that match the ships you want to work on.

Good luck and if you’re looking for your next seafarer job, don’t forget to take a look at Martide’s maritime job vacancies!

Disclaimer: The information above is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing and is provided for informational purposes only as a starting guide. Requirements change and can vary by flag, company, and vessel type. We highly recommend checking the latest official guidance from MARINA, DMW/OWWA, TESDA/CHED, your chosen training center, and your manning agency.