"Mandatory Anti-Piracy Awareness for Seafarers"

POEA Resolution No. 09, series of 2009 declared that deployment of Filipino seafarers on board vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden (GOA).

In this regard, the POEA through Memorandum Circular No. 12, series of 2009 prescribed additional requirements for processing of seafarers transiting the GOA among which is a Certificate of compliance to the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar which has an Anti-Piracy Training Component consisting of the following:

"a. Shore-based training to improve knowledge and skills on how to carry out risk assessment; understanding piracy threats and current patterns; how to conduct the physical preparation of the vessel; conduct during transit to the high risk zone; actions on encountering pirates;

b. On-board exercises and drills on implementing anti-piracy strategy."

On 8 January 2010, a Tripartite Summit to address piracy issues was held in AMOSUP Seamen's Center, Manila participated in by representatives of government (DOLE/POEA), employers, seafarer's unions and international organizations. One of the resolutions adopted in the summit was that "manning agencies shall provide, pursuant to the guidelines of the POEA and at no cost to the seafarers, an anti-piracy awareness training seminar for departing seafarers effective February 01, 2010"