Section 27Sec./Art. 27

Practice of Merchant Marine Profession. – No person shall practice or offer to practice the merchant marine profession in the Philippines or offer himself as a marine deck/engineer officer, or use the title, word, letter, figure or any sign tending to convey the impression that he is a marine deck/engineer officer, or advertise or indicate in any manner whatsoever that he is qualified to perform the work of a marine deck/engineer officer unless he has satisfactorily passed the licensure examination given by the Board and is a holder of a valid Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Competency duly issued to him by the Board of Marine Deck/Engineer Officers.

In compliance with the STCW '78 convention and its amendments, the person holding senior merchant marine licenses namely, the master, chief officer, chief engineer and second engineers must be able to function under the management level of responsibility while the officers-in-charge of navigational and engineering watch must be able to function under the operational level of responsibility