Maritime Coastguard Agency
Application process
In line with MIN 655, if you are applying for your first UK Certificate of Competency (CoC), you must post your application and original documents (except passport which must be an attested copy) at both NOE and CoC stages to:
Seafarer Certification 2/11
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
For all other applications, please email your application and scanned documents to deck@mcga.gov.uk
Please ensure your documents are included as attachments or within a .zip folder. Unfortunately, we cannot open .rar extensions or links to file-sharing services (e.g. OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox etc).
Fast track requests
It is unlikely we will consider expediting a NOE (including Resit) or Rating application within our service standard of 28 days, or within 14 days for all other applications.
If you have been waiting longer than this and need us to assess your application on an urgent basis, please ask your company to email deck@mcga.gov.uk directly with your full name, date of birth and a compelling reason (including the vessel joining date).
For NOE applications, your company must also confirm to us that you meet all of the licence requirements i.e. the only barrier to gaining the licence is you need to sit the MCA oral exam.
For NOE resits, it is unlikely we will be able to consider a fast-track request if youve already had 3 attempts or more.
Booking your MCA oral exam
Information about how to book your oral exam will be emailed to you when you have met the requirements for an NOE.
Oral exam syllabuses
It is recommended that you review the relevant oral exam syllabus before sitting your MCA oral exam.
NOE resits
If you fail your MCA oral exam and wish to resit it, please email the NOE Fail to deck@mcga.gov.uk. The fee is currently 159 and should be paid for online to prevent delays.
This process also applies if you passed your oral exam more than 3 years ago.
Unused NOE
If you were issued with a NOE over 5 years ago but did not sit the exam, the fee is reduced (currently 90). Well also need to see two forms of evidence showing 6 months seagoing service in the last 5 years.
Merchant Navy
- MSF 4274 - Application form for an oral examination leading to the issue of a certificate of competency (STCW) for masters, chief mates and deck officers in the merchant navy
For guidance on the licence requirements, please see MSN 1856 Amendment 1
- Deck Officer of the Watch II/1: sections 3.1 and 3.2
- Chief Mate II/2 Unlimited: section 3.3
- Master II/2 Unlimited: section 3.4
Commercial and private yachts (over 24m)
- MSF 4343 - Application form for an oral examination leading to the issue of a certificate of competency (STCW) for masters, chief mates and deck officers on commercially and privately operated yachts and sail training vessels
For guidance on the licence requirements, please see MSN 1858 Amendment 1.
For conversions to a yacht CoC, please see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/certification-for-deck-officers-on-commercial-and-private-yachts#conversions-to-a-yacht-coc
Watch rating certificate
- MSF 4371 - Application form for MCA issued watch rating certificate (navigational)
For guidance on the certification requirements, please see MSN 1862 Amendment 1.
Tug CoC
- MSF 4260 - Application form for an oral examination leading to the issue of a certificate of competency (STCW) for masters and deck officers of tugs
For the licence requirements, please see MGN 495.
Fishing CoC
- MSF 4345 - Application form for an oral examination, leading to issue, conversion or upgrade of a certificate of competency for fishing deck officers
To find more information about training and certification for deck fishing vessel crew, please see MGN 411.
GMDSS STCW endorsement
- MSF 4354 - Application form for initial STCW endorsement and subsequent revalidation to GMDSS certificate of competence
For the endorsement requirements, please see MSN 1864 Amendment 1.
Radio operators working on offshore oil and gas installations or fishing vessels do not need a GMDSS endorsement. If you do request an endorsement, youll need to comply with MCA application requirements and provide STCW basic training certificates.
Please contact AMERC if youve lost your original GOC or ROC certificate and need a replacement.
Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) licence
- MSF 4807 - Application for the issue of a vessel traffic services (VTS) operator logbook, VTS endorsements and VTS revalidations
For the licence requirements, please see MGN 434.
New tanker endorsements
- MSF 4210 - Application form for a tanker endorsement on a UK CoC
Sea service/training/occupation must be within the last 5 years:
Basic/Operational level
- Relevant MCA-approved Basic Tanker Training, and;
- MCA-approved Tanker Fire Fighting.
If you already hold Advanced Oil or Advanced Chemical tanker endorsement on your UK CoC, you automatically qualify for Basic Oil and Chemical endorsement (i.e. no training required).
Advanced/Management level
- You must meet the basic level requirements (as above) unless you are exempt because you hold the corresponding basic endorsement on your UK CoC, or you are applying for Advanced Oil/Chemical and hold the opposite Advanced Oil/Chemical endorsement on your UK CoC, and;
- Relevant