MCA - Maritime and Coastguard Agency

01/26/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/26/2023 07:06

UK seafarer careers: Training provision, information and examination syllabuses

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

The underpinning Marine Notices detailing the MCA's COVID-19 response have now expired and, as such, the associated guidance has been removed.

STCW Review Survey Summary Report

STCW Review Survey Summary Report - Navigation Engineering ETO ( , 3.01 MB, 108 pages)

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 ( , 234 KB, 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.

For the latest guidance on oral exams, please refer to MIN 675.

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.

Written examination syllabuses

Deck officers written examination syllabus:

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

Engineer officers written examination syllabus:

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

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

GES I - Chief Engineer Small Vessel (STCW III-2 & V-II) and Second Engineer or Chief Engineer under 3,000 kW (STCW III-3) ( , 109 KB, 3 pages)

GES II - Chief Engineer Small Vessel (STCW III-2 & V-II) and Second Engineer or Chief Engineer under 3,000 kW (STCW III-3) ( , 111 KB, 4 pages)

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

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

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

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

Deck yacht officers written examination syllabus:

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

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

Engineer yacht and small vessel written examination/course syllabus:

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

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

Approved engine course part 2 (AEC) ( , 385 KB, 26 pages)

Small Vessel Engineer written examination/course syllabus:

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

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

Workshop Skills Training ( , 780 KB, 19 pages)

Workboat less than 500 GT syllabus:

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

1 day Small Workboat stability course syllabus:

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

For consultation reference

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

External maritime organisations

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