GOV.UK
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
What the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is doing
28 July 2017 — Corporate information
Working for MCA
Information about applying for jobs with and volunteering for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
2 May 2018 — News story
MCA and RNLI test drones in real-life search and rescue scenarios
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) ran a special event to test the use of drones.
1 December 2016 — Corporate information
Personal information charter
The Maritime Coastguard Agency holds personal data for seafarers, ship owners,agents and members of the public who have voluntarily registered their vessels.
24 May 2018 — News story
The return of Joe and Petunia
Return of the popular sixties characters in a new MCA safety film.
8 June 2018 — News story
Dramatic moment coastguard helicopter rescues two young boys
Footage of a coastguard helicopter rescue of two boys in the ‘nick of time’ clinging to a rock in the sea at Hopeman East Beach.
4 July 2018 — News story
HM Coastguard adopts ‘RYA SafeTrx’ as new safety ID scheme
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) have today joined forces to reveal RYA SafeTrx as HM Coastguard’s new official voluntary safety identification scheme.
Latest from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
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MIN 554 (M) Amendment 1 VTS V103 and Local port services course dates 2018 – 2019
- Guidance
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Minister urges UK fishermen to sign up for safety improvements
- News story
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Recruitment and placement agencies approved by the MCA
- Guidance
Subscriptions
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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.
Our policies
Documents
Our announcements
Our consultations
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Special purpose ship, International Maritime Organization codes
- Consultation outcome
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Weighing of goods vehicles and other cargo regulations
- Consultation outcome
- See all consultations
Our publications
Our statistics
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Search and rescue helicopter (SARH01)
- Statistical data set
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Search and rescue helicopter statistics: year ending March 2018
- National statistics
- See all statistics
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 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
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: 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
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.