The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) collect and retain personal information provided on the medical examination of seafarers report form (ENG 2) the seafarer medical examination notice of failure/restriction (ENG 3), the certificate of medical fitness (ENG 1), and any seafarer medical report forms (ML5), which are referred to MCA for assessment.

We will use this information to fulfil our duties as stated in the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010 (which implement the UK’s international obligations under Maritime Labour Convention, 2006), the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C.188) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW).

To find out more about how the MCA look after personal data, your rights and how to contacts our data protection officer please go to the mca personal information charter page.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Contingency Plan and Guidelines for Seafarers

Please see the documents below for the MCA’s response and advice to industry on areas of operation which may be affected by COVID-19.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Contingency Plan and Guidelines for the services provided to Seafarers and Shipowners by the MCA. (PDF, 110KB, 5 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Timeline for Oral Exams and the Issue of New NOEs (PDF, 36.9KB, 3 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): MCA approved course delivery and Oral and Written Examination information (PDF, 51.4KB, 2 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): College Exam Assessment Policy (PDF, 122KB, 2 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tanker Training Requirements (PDF, 49.1KB, 2 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for revalidation of Boatmasters’ Licences, issue of Discharge books and Ships Cook Certificates of Competency (PDF, 97.5KB, 2 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Contingency Plan and Guidelines for the services provided to VTS Centres and VTS Operators by the MCA. (PDF, 55.7KB, 1 page)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Fishermen’s Short Course Requirements (PDF, 121KB, 2 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Revised medical certification policy information for Merchant Seafarers and Fishermen (PDF, 105KB, 4 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Medical examination policy information for ML5 medical certificate holders. (PDF, 106KB, 2 pages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Vessels having difficulties requiring replacement Medical Stores (PDF, 129KB, 2 pages)

MIN 632 can be found here which contains information relating to the extension of seafarer employment agreements.

Foundation degrees

Deck and engineer officers can study in areas of marine operation and marine engineering. Study programmes include studying for the officer of the watch (OOW) seafarer qualification. Courses cover management competencies as well as technical content. Foundation degrees are not available in Scotland but you can study equivalent programmes for merchant navy qualifications. These cover the same content as the foundation degree.

Higher National Diploma (HND) or Higher National Certificate (HNC) certificates

HND and HNC qualifications lead to a UK Certificate of Competency (CoC). Those issued by Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and Edexel must be completed in an MCA approved training centre if they are being used towards gaining a CoC. In some cases there are collaborative schemes with overseas colleges where the qualifications are gained through an approved UK training centre – these are known as 1+1 schemes.

Careers at sea – merchant navy opportunities

Find more information about entry routes and training below.

Careers at Sea leaflet Visit the Careers at sea website.

Nautical colleges, yacht deck training providers and small vessel engineer training providers

Find contact details for MCA approved Training providers (PDF, 144KB, 4 pages) running courses leading to a UK Certificate of Competency (CoC).

Training centres

MCA-approved training centres deliver STCW short/ancillary training courses such as:

• advanced fire fighting
• ship security officer training
• specialised tanker training

Find contact details for MCA approved training providers (ATP) running specific courses.

UK marine offices

Telephone and fax numbers for all UK Marine Offices and locations on a map. Opening hours are listed where available. Oral Exams can be taken at Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff, Colchester, Falmouth, Glasgow, Hull (Beverley), Liverpool, Newcastle (Tyne), Plymouth and Southampton.

For the latest guidance on oral exams during the COVID-19 lockdown, please refer to MIN 620.

Oral exam syllabuses

Deck and engineer officers sit oral exams to gain their certificates of competency. Find the syllabuses in the marine guidance note below.

• MGN 69 (M) Training and certification guidance – Part 11 – Conduct of MCA Oral examinations
• Electro-technical officer (ETO) (PDF, 260KB, 5 pages) MCA Oral Examination Syllabus
• Small Vessel (SV) Engineer (PDF, 130KB, 5 pages) MCA Oral Examination Syllabi
• Oral exam syllabus ‘F’ (PDF, 171KB, 4 pages) for Chief Mate unlimited tonnage near coastal Reg II/2
• Oral exam syllabus ‘G’ for Chief Mate unlimited tonnage near coastal Reg II/2 (PDF, 369KB, 4 pages) for Master unlimited tonnage near coastal Reg II/2
• Oral exam syllabus ‘H’ (PDF, 175KB, 5 pages) for Master less than 3,000 GT, specified area, Reg II/3
• UK Legal and Administrative Processes – Grade 2: UK LAP 2 (PDF, 293KB, 3 pages)

Written examination syllabuses

Deck officers written examination syllabus:

OOW and chief mate navigation and stability syllabus examination syllabus (SQA) (PDF, 160KB, 17 pages)

Engineer officers written examination syllabus:

Engineer officer of the watch IAMI A & B syllabus (PDF, 235KB, 4 pages)

Engineer officer of the watch engineering knowledge (EK) examination syllabus (PDF, 408KB, 10 pages)

Second engineer <3000kW, class 1 fishing engineer, yacht 2 chief engineer (Y2), general engineering science I &II (PDF, 238KB, 19 pages)

Second engineer written examination syllabus (PDF, 412KB, 50 pages)

Chief engineer written examination syllabus (PDF, 653KB, 61 pages)

Management Level (III/2) Academic Syllabus (PDF, 419KB, 27 pages)

Management Level (III/2) Engineering Knowledge (EK) Examinations (PDF, 111KB, 5 pages)

Deck yacht officers written examination syllabus:

OOW yacht written examination syllabus (PDF, 1020KB, 30 pages)

Master yacht written examination syllabus (PDF, 1.07MB, 54 pages)

Engineer yacht and small vessel written examination/course syllabus:

SQA yacht engineering syllabus (PDF, 266KB, 26 pages)

Approved engine course part 1 (AEC) (PDF, 315KB, 23 pages)

Approved engine course part 2 (AEC) (PDF, 358KB, 26 pages)

Small Vessel Engineer written examination/course syllabus:

Small Vessel Second Engineer Syllabus (PDF, 163KB, 13 pages)

Small Vessel Chief Engineer Syllabus (PDF, 430KB, 11 pages)

Workshop Learning Outcomes (PDF, 341KB, 2 pages)

Workboat less than 500 GT syllabus:

Workboat less than 500 GT syllabus (PDF, 153KB, 4 pages)

1 day Small Workboat stability course syllabus:

1 day MCA Small Workboat Stability course syllabus (PDF, 40.7KB, 1 page)

For consultation reference

Model Course for Ratings as Able Seafarer Deck (A-II/5) (PDF, 2.79MB, 157 pages)

Royal Naval MoUs

The MCA has memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Royal Navy regarding converting to gain civilian certification. These are shown in Flowcharts detailed below:

• Deck Royal Naval Conversion Flow Chart (PDF, 115KB, 1 page)
• Engineering Royal Naval Conversion Flow Chart (PDF, 207KB, 6 pages)

External maritime organisations

Find links below to various organisations that can provide further information on nautical training, for example:

• Association of Marine Electronics and Radio Colleges(AMERC) – a network of colleges, universities and private organisations providing courses and consultancies in marine radio and electronics
• International Association of Marine Institutions (IAMI) – providing education and training for personnel in the merchant navy, towing and fishing industries
• International Yacht Training Worldwide -international body for boating, including yachts, power vessels, dinghies etc.
• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) – leading international membership body and learned society for marine professionals.
• Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) – the shipping industry’s central body for promoting and developing seafarer education, training and skills
• UK NARIC – national agency providing information and advice about vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications
• Royal Institute of Naval Architecture (RINA) – internationally renowned professional institution involved in design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA) – national body for boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, powerboat racing and windsurfing
• Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) – national accreditation and awarding body in Scotland
• Seafish – the UK’s only cross-industry seafood body working with fishers, processors, wholesalers, seafood farmers, fish friers, caterers, retailers and the import/export trade