Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Coastguard
Agency
- Working at sea: certification, health and safety
- Ships and cargoes: construction, operation and navigation
- Find marine (M) notices
- Seafarer certification: working on a UK registered vessel
- Seafarer medical certification and advice
- UK Ship Register
- Commercial fishing and fisheries
- Apply for a boatmasters' licence
- Civil Hydrography Programme
- Coastguard search and rescue
- All MCA services and information
Featured
Fishing vessel owners guilty of safety breaches
Press release
The company owners of two UK-registered fishing vessels which went to sea without the correct certification have been found guilty in a prosecution by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and fined a total of £4,000.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency announced today that they will commence a phased return to Survey and Inspection activity in the UK from 20 July.
HM Coastguard asks everyone to take extra care
Press release
With significant numbers of people expected to take to the water this weekend in England, HM Coastguard is asking everyone to take extra care in extraordinary times.
Coronavirus Guidance
Press release
For commercial seafarers and recreational boat users
Volunteering for MCA
Guidance
Information about volunteering for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
UPDATE: The information contained in this news story has been moved, see below.
Latest from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
What the Maritime and Coastguard Agency does
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.
Documents
Policy papers and consultations
- Consultation on merchant shipping (counting and registration of persons on board passenger ships) (amendment) regulations 2020
- Consultation on the proposed merchant shipping (cargo ship) (bilge alarm) regulations 2021
Transparency and freedom of information releases
- MCA annual report and accounts 2019 to 2020
- Second generation UK search and rescue aviation programme (UKSAR2G)
Our management
Contact MCA
HM Coastguard and Marine Offices
United Kingdom
Emergency contact number for the nearest coastguard
999
Head office
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
United Kingdom
Main switchboard
0203 817 2000
For General enquiries
Out of hours duty surveyor
Technical Enquiries
+44 (0)7810 528504
Note that this service is for Urgent Technical Enquiries that require action out of office hours only. This number must not be used for any urgent or routine enquires during normal office hours.
All enquiries during office hours, including, but not limited to, technical enquiries, enquiries on registration of ships or seafarer’s certification should use the contact details on the list provided here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/access-and-opening
UK Ship Register
MCA HQ
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
United Kingdom
Merchant Ships
023 8032 9197
Small Ships
+44(0)29 2044 8813
Fishing Vessels
+44(0)29 2044 8855
Pleasure Vessels
+44(0)29 2044 8866
7:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency press office
Press enquiries
020381 72222 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm)
Outside these hours, for emergency press enquiries only please dial the above number. You will hear a message giving details of how to contact the on call press officer.
Seafarer training and certification
Seafarer training and certification switchboard
0203 817 2200
Phone lines are currently closed for seafarer training and certification services please email the relevant department as per the below addresses.
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
- Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request.
- Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question.
- Make a new request by contacting us using the details below.
Freedom of Information requests
Corporate information
Jobs and contracts
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