The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is in the final stages of putting together the eleven (11) new maritime courses for Filipino seafarers in line with the revised standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that were adopted two years ago. Seven (7) of the 11 new courses will become available to maritime trainees this year. The new courses include: Able Deck, Able Engine, Advanced Training for Oil Tanker Cargo Operations, Basic Training for Oil and Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations and Electro-Technical Officer. It also includes modules like the Security Awareness Training and Security Training for Seafarers with Designated Security Duties. The four remaining courses will be available in March. Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz said that the DOLE and the MTC were rushing the development of the 11 courses this year to provide local seafarers with additional training before the Manila Amendments become fully effective in 2017. The revised STCW from the IMO took effect this year but it provided a five-year transitional period, which will end in 2017, to allow its member countries to comply. If our Filipino seafarers fail to take the new courses by 2017, Labor Undersecretary Cruz warned that they will no longer be allowed to work on board ship.