What we do

We work to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea. We produce legislation and guidance on maritime matters, and provide certification to seafarers.

MCA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Transport.

Read more about what we do

Our policies

  1. Maritime sector

See all our policies

Documents

Our announcements

  1. FOREIGN FLAGGED SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING SEPTEMBER 2017

    • Press release

  2. The changing face of shipping

    • Speech

See all our announcements

Our consultations

  1. Consultation on recasting the Merchant Shipping (Load Line)

    • Consultation outcome

  2. Proposed Work Boat (Code of Practice) Regulations

    • Closed consultation

See all our consultations

Our publications

  1. Approved service stations for liferafts, boats and life jackets

    • Guidance

  2. MSN 1871 (F) Code of Practice for Safety of Small Fishing Vessels

    • Guidance

See all our publications

Our statistics

  1. Search and rescue helicopter statistics: year ending March 2017

    • Official Statistics

  2. Search and rescue helicopter statistics: October to December 2016

    • Official Statistics

See all our statistics

Our management

Contact MCA

HM Coastguard and Marine Offices

For local rescue phone numbers, click the link.

Head office

Spring Place
105 Commercial Road

Southampton
SO15 1EG

For General enquiries

Out of hours duty surveyor

Note that this service is for Urgent Technical Enquiries that require action out of office hours only and for enquiries on registration of ships, seafarer’s certification see the list provided here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/access-and-opening

UK Ship Register

Customer Services: merchant and bareboat charter registration
MCA HQ
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG


7:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency press office

Outside these hours, for emergency press enquiries only please dial the above number. You will hear a message giving an out of hours pager number.

Seafarer training and certification: deck training

Seafarer training and certification: boatmaster training

Seafarer training and certification: CEC training

Seafarer training and certification: engineering training

Seafarer training and certification: exams section

Seafarer training and certification: revalidation team

Seafarer training and certification: safemanning team

Seafarer training and certification: smart team

Seafarer training and certification: STC courses

Make an FOI request

  1. Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request
  2. Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question
  3. Make a new request by contacting us at:

Freedom of Information requests

Corporate information

Jobs and contracts

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Find out about our commitment to publishing in Welsh. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information. Find out About our services.