GWO ADVANCED RESCUE TRAINING (GWO ART)

• Hub, Spinner, Inside Blade Rescue (1 day)
• Nacelle, Tower, Basement Rescue (2 days)
• Single Rescuer: Hub (1 Day)
• Single Rescuer: Nacelle (1 Day)

• Hub, Spinner, Inside Blade Rescue (1 day)
• Nacelle, Tower, Basement Rescue (2 days)

In March 2020, OPITO implemented a certificate extension process to support those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, where their certification expired within 30 days, initially, and then within 14 days.

On 19 October 2020, the two-month period of grace was introduced. This was not a formal extension to certificates or reflected in Vantage but allowed appropriate refresher training to be undertaken within two months of eligible certificate’s expiry dates. This was designed to prompt a return to Centres as the majority globally had since reopened with stringent sanitisation and social-distancing measures in place.

This process has supported industry and the workforce during these challenging times, and, as of 30^th April 2023 more than 40,000 certificates have been extended under the Policy.

OPITO has taken the decision to draw the certificate extension process and grace period to a close starting the 31^st May 2023.

The two-month grace period is being withdrawn from 31^st May 2023, however can be utilised by Learners until the 31^st July 2023.  Any Learners looking to use the ‘Grace Period’ must have completed their refresher training by this date.

If you have any questions or clarifications regarding this concern, you may send an email to the following email addresses.

Delegates (self-sponsors) delegate.support@opito.com

Employing companies employer.support@opito.com  

**FURTHER AMENDMENT OF MARINA ADVISORY 2022-18 EXTENDING THE COVERAGE OF EXTENSION OF VALIDITY OF EXPIRING SIRBFOR FILIPINO SEAFARERS CURRENTLY ONBOARDOPERATING IN BOTH DOMESTIC AND OVERSEAS**

In view of the continuing effect and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the seafarers and the international shipping, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) understood the need for another extension of validity of Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) of Filipino seafarers who could not yet disembark their vessels and be safely repatriated due to restrictions imposed by several countries.
To alleviate the plight of the Filipino seafarer, and with reference to the MARINA Advisory No.2022-18 dated 07 March 2022, notice is hereby given of its further amendment, to provide as follows:
“xxx…
“All Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) that are expiringbetween 01 August 2022 to 31 December 2022 shall be extended and considered valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of expiry thereof without the need to file for its renewal at the MARINA. This applies to SIRB of all Filipino Seafarers who are still ONBOARD at the time of the expiry of their respective SIRB.
xxx…”
FINALLY, all manning agencies and shipping companies concerned are hereby directed to submit to MARINA the list of their crew members whose validity of SIRB has been extended pursuant to this Advisory. An electronic copy of the said information shall be submitted via e-mail at mds_scdd@marina.gov.ph following the attached template in Annex A.
This Advisory shall take effect immediately.

Attachment from MARINA for your reference.

Please be informed that GWO has released the latest standards for BST and BST Refreshers, with effectivity on 01 October 2022.
Please be informed of the major changes in the said standards:

1. GWO First Aid– change in duration: from 1.5 days to 1 day – changes in the PEP

2. GWO First Aid Refresher– change in duration: from 8 hours to 4.5 hours– changes in the PEP

3. GWO Manual Handling- changes in the PEP

Practicum Exercises Plan (PEP)

Pursuant to the MARINA Advisory No.2021-76 issued on 23 December 2021providing for the extension of validity of certificates for one (1) year from date of the expiry between the period 01 January 2022 to 30 June 2022,Notice is hereby given that all seafarers whose certificates expired onboard international vessels from 01 July2022 are advised to apply for the revalidation (expedite application) through their Licensed Manning Agencies (LMAs) and submit the following in addition to the documentary requirements relative to the certificate being applied for:

a. Copy of crew list;
b. Copy of Contract of Employment;
c. 1st page of the SIRB/SRB and the relevant page with embarkation entry; and,
d. Attestation signed by the Master that the applicant is currently onboard.

All other seafarers with expiring STCW Certificates shall apply for revalidation through their respective MISMO accounts at least three (3) months prior to its expiration. The revalidation of such certificates shall be in accordance with existing MARINA policies, rules and regulations, and relevant provisions of the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended.

Please see attachment from MARINA.

We are writing to confirm that the 60-day refresher extension for GWO Courses period will expire on 30 June 2022.

Effective today, no more extension will be given to expiring certificates that need to be refreshed.

The expiration date of 30 June 2022 was announced on 25 April 2022.  Since then, the GWO Audit and Compliance committee has monitored the situation around restrictions globally.  Research into current local restrictions in countries where GWO training is delivered has shown that participants do not face legal restrictions to attend safety training courses. 

While we are pleased to see this progress, GWO and our Audit and Compliance committee will continue to monitor the situation in case a need should arise again.  WINDA will also be updated accordingly to remove the refresher extension.

If you have any questions regarding the situation,  you may directly email the GWO office at info@globalwindsafety.org.

Please be informed that GWO announced that course participants who owing to a Covid-related cancellation, who are unable to attend a refresher course within the 24 months validity period, may refresh expired training up until a maximum of 60 days after expiry.  Any refresher training taken using this exemption must be completed no later than June 30, 2022. In such cases, the course participant shall take steps to do so at the earliest possible opportunity and must, prior to being admitted to a refresher course as far as practicable, document to the training provider reasonable COVID related justification for cancellation of the original planned training.”

EXTENDING THE COVERAGE OF EXTENSION OF VALIDITY OF EXPIRING SIRB FOR FILIPINO SEAFARERS CURRENTLY ONBOARD SHIPS OPERATING OVERSEAS

In view of the continuing effect and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the seafarers and the international shipping, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) realized the need for another extension of validity of Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) of Filipino seafarers who could not yet disembark their vessels and be safely repatriated due to restrictions imposed by several countries.

To alleviate the plight of the Filipino seafarer, and with reference to the MARINA Advisory No. 2021 -32 dated 11 June 2021, notice is hereby given of its further amendment, to provide as follows:
”All Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) that are expiring between 01 January 2022 to 31 July 2022 shall be extended and considered valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of expiry thereof without the need to file for its renewal at the MARINA. This applies to SIRB of all Filipino Seafarers who are still ONBOARD at the time of the expiry of their respective SIRB.”

There has been a technical difficulty with the WINDA Portal. The issue entails that the delegate may not receive an email with a registration link/notification email from WINDA and are therefore not able to create a profile. GWO is working hard to resolve the issue and expects a resolution the soonest.
 
All GWO certified training providers are informed about this issue and will assist course participants in attending training and verify their training status outside of WINDA. Once the issue in WINDA has been resolved, the course participants must register in the WINDA Portal and must send their WINDA IDs to the training provider where they attended their GWO approved training.

Should you have any further questions, please contact Global Wind Organization (GWO) at info@globalwindsafety.org.
 

“In March 2020, OPITO implemented a certificate extension process to support the impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic. This process was originally scheduled to draw to a close on 1st May 2021. However, as situations remain evolving in certain regions, OPITO has decided to continue to offer support for submitted certificate extensions – this assuming they continue to be submitted in line with the exceptional eligibility criteria detailed in the current Policy. The process, therefore, will not cease on 1st May 2021 and advanced warning of support being withdrawn will be communicated in due course and when suitable
Certificate Extension Process

The current Policy, effective 19 October 2020, remains in place until further notice from OPITO

• If a delegate has been impacted by COVID-19, and their certification expires within 14 days before the expiry date, they can continue to request an extension by completing the appropriate form on the website (there are separate processes for employers and delegates (self-sponsors))

Delegates – https://www.opito.com/certificate-extension-delegate-v3

Employers – https://www.opito.com/certificate-extension-employer-v3

• Period of Grace – A two-month ‘period of grace’ to undertake refresher training will begin from the expiry date of the certificate
• Delegates are required to seek refresher training when it is suitable for them to do so
• There continues to be no charge for this service

For more information about the advisory, you may visit the OPITO website: https://opito.com/covid19