01/11/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/10/2023 18:04
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 [email protected]
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 [email protected] 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 certificate requirements i.e. the only barrier to gaining the certificate 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 you've already had 3 attempts or more.
Booking your MCA oral exam
Please email the following to [email protected] :
EOOW and ETO candidates also need to provide scanned colour copies of the following exerts from your MNTB Training Record Book (TRB) in PDF format:
Oral exam syllabuses
It is recommended that you review the relevant oral exam syllabus before sitting your MCA oral exam.
CoC requirements
If you pass your MCA oral exam, please see our guidance on the requirements for an engineering CoC application.
NOE resits
If you fail your MCA oral exam and wish to resit it, please email the NOE Fail to [email protected]. 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). We'll also need to see two forms of evidence showing 6 months' seagoing service in the last 5 years.
Exemptions
All applicants will need to supply sufficient 'detailed evidence' of their course content for a 70% match to be obtained between their qualification and the MCA's syllabuses. In addition applicants will be required to have obtained a pass mark of at least 50% in each of the individual subjects, within their qualification, being presented for the audit.
Copies of certificates, marking transcripts and photo ID, will need to be signed by a 'notary' confirming the true likeness to the original.
Merchant Engineering Officer of the Watch Unlimited
For Science A and B, and Control Engineering:
For Workshop Skills, a skills test can be used if you have workshop qualifications; please contact your MCA-approved nautical training centre.
Merchant Second/Chief Engineer Unlimited
Holders of UK/EU qualifications (HND and higher) should contact IAMI for course and exam exemptions from Naval Architecture, Applied Mechanics, Applied Heat, Electro-technology, Mathematics and Engineering, Systems & Ship's Drawings.
Holders of non-UK/EU Engineering degrees should first contact UK ENIC for recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills, and then IAMI for course exemptions only (i.e. exam exemptions are not available).
University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
Please email your UTT e-transcript to [email protected] for the attention of an Engineering Examiner.
Small vessels
Please do not apply for exemptions before obtaining an action plan from a MCA-approved Small Vessel Engineering training provider.
For General Engineering Science I & II, 2 weeks' Workshop Skills (also known as Yacht Skills Test) and AEC1, please contact IAMI.
There is generally no exemption available for AEC2, however, MCA/MNTB-approved FD/SPD, HND or HNC holders should email [email protected] the course completion letter.
ETO
For finding a match to the AMERC Electronic Principles course, you will need to hold the minimum of a Higher National Certificate (Academic level 4/Scotland level 7) to be considered for the IAMI exemption service.
For finding a match to the management level Electrotechnology SQA qualification, you will need to hold the minimum of a Higher National Diploma (Academic level 5/Scotland level 8) to be considered for the IAMI exemption service.
Merchant Navy
For guidance on the certificate requirements, please see MSN 1857 Amendment 1
Holders of non-UK CoCs
Please note your non-UK CoC must be valid upon application and remain valid until we print your CoC.
Common queries
Royal Navy conversion to Merchant Navy
We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Royal Navy, giving a route to Merchant STCW Certification based on the education and training, as well as experience, gained whilst in the Navy.
For those in the surface fleet, please see the Engineering Royal Naval Conversion Flow Chart. More information can be obtained directly from the Royal Navy (contact details on request).
If you are a Submariner, we are currently in discussions regarding routes taking into account your education, training and experience. We can raise your case directly with our examiner for review if needed; please email [email protected] with your Rank, service history and any relevant education and training.
There is currently no equivalent MOU for other former UK military personnel.
Small vessels
To enter the Small Vessel structure, please familiarise yourself with MSN 1904 and MIN 642 and contact a MCA-approved Small Vessel Engineering training provider to enrol and obtain an action plan.
Conversions
Conversion routes are currently open to UK CoC holders only. Please see section 7 of MIN 642. If you hold a superior capacity on your CoC (e.g. EOOW Unlimited III/1), this will carry over to your new CoC.
All conversion routes require 6 months' seagoing service in the last 5 years (as per section 11.1 of MSN 1904).
For conversions N1 and N2 (Merchant EOOW to SV Chief Eng), you do not need HELM (Operational) unless you qualified as an EOOW before September 2013.
Commercial and private yachts (over 24m)
The yacht structure has closed - no further NOEs will be issued (except resits).
The MCA will continue to revalidate yacht CoCs. To convert/upgrade to a small vessel CoC, please see section 7 of MIN 642:
Once you have converted to a small vessel CoC, progression will be through MSN 1904.
The certificate requirements for the old yacht structure can be found in MSN 1859 Amendment 1
Electro-technical officer (ETO)
You should follow either:
In all cases, please contact a MCA-approved Nautical College.
Senior Electro-Technical Officer (SETO)
SETO is not recognised by STCW and consequently will not appear on a Safe Manning Document. To obtain SETO by written examination, please contact IAMI for exam details.
Watch rating certificate
Electro-technical
For guidance on Electro-technical Rating III/7, please see section 5 of the form (above).
Engine room
For guidance on Engine Room Watch Rating Certificate III/4, please see MSN 1863 Amendment 1, in particular section 2.2 (sea service reduction).
If you are unable to complete the steam tasks on board, you have a few options:
Fishing CoC
Fishing vessels over 750kW must carry two engineers: a Chief Engineer holding a Fishing Class 1 and a Second Engineer holding a Fishing Class 2. This is regardless of the vessel's length, tonnage or area of operation.
For the certificate requirements and how to apply, please see: Guidance for obtaining UK MCA engineering fishing certificates of competency.
New tanker endorsements
Sea service/training/occupation must be within the last 5 years:
Basic/Operational level
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
Lapsed endorsements
If you previously held tanker endorsement(s) on your UK CoC but they were removed, you will still need to complete MSF 4210 and pay the fee, however, the requirements are:
IGF Code
For guidance on our requirements, please see:
For training for service on ships using fuels covered within the IGF Code, please see our list of MCA-approved training providers.
Limitation removal
To remove High Voltage, Davit, Navigational Systems or Radio Equipment limitations, please apply using form MSF 3901.
You can also use this form to change your name.
CoC replacement
You can apply for a replacement using form MSF 4299. If your CoC was stolen, you must report it to the Police.
CoC revalidation
CoCs are valid for 5 years. Fishing CoCs, MEOLs and Rating Certificates do not need to be revalidated.
Please see our detailed guidance on how to revalidate a UK CoC.
PSSR, EFA and MFA
Your UK CoC is proof that you have met the requirements for PSSR (A-VI/1-4), EFA (A-VI/1-3) and MFA (A-VI/4-1). There's also no requirement to update these three courses. If an employer is querying this, please refer them to sections 5.1 and 5.2 of MIN 643.
Pre-August 1998 grandfather rights
If a seafarer had 6 months sea service prior to August 1998, they were not required to complete PSSR or EFA originally (as per section 2.4 of MGN 97).
'First Aid at Sea' certificate issued before August 1998 should be considered as equivalent to MFA (A-VI/4-1) as per MGN 147.