Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Coastguard
Agency
- Working at sea: certification, health and safety
- Ships and cargoes: detailed information and marine 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
- UK Civil Hydrography Programme
- Coastguard search and rescue
- Order free safety materials
- All MCA services and information
Featured
Keeping you safe at the coast for 200 years: HM Coastguard celebrates landmark birthday
Press release
From its beginnings with coastal lookouts to today’s hi-tech national network of coordination centres, from small localised beginnings to international players – one thing has stayed the same for two centuries – Her Majesty’s Coastguard seeks to search, to rescue and to save.
A commitment to caring for those on the frontline has led to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency appointing its first ever full-time chaplain.
III Code Audit – excellent result for the United Kingdom
Press release
The UK continues to hold its own as a leader in the maritime world after the leading international agency responsible for safety of shipping carried out an audit that shows how well it does its work.
Latest from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
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.
Documents
Guidance and regulation
See all guidance and regulationPolicy papers and consultations
- Consultation on The Merchant Shipping (Cargo and passenger ship construction and miscellaneous amendments) Regulations 2022
- MGN 657 requirements for fixed aerosol fire extinguishing systems for use in small vessel machinery spaces
Transparency and freedom of information releases
See all transparency and freedom of information releasesOur management
Contact MCA
HM Coastguard and Marine Offices
United Kingdom
Emergency contact number for the nearest coastguard
999
Office address and general enquiries
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
United Kingdom
Main switchboard
0203 817 2000
Press office
Press enquiries
020381 72222 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm)
Outside these hours or on bank holidays and weekends, for media enquiries ONLY, please send an email to public.relations@mcga.co.uk outlining your query and putting #Urgent in the subject title.
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.
Seafarer training and certification
Seafarer training and certification switchboard
0203 817 2200
Phone lines are open 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm.
Seafarer training and certification: deck training
Seafarer training and certification: boatmaster training
Seafarer training and certification: FSE/CEC
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
UK Beacon Registry
Telephone:
+44 (0)20 3817 2006
Fax:
+44 (0)1326 319264
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except public holidays).
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
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
United Kingdom
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. Read our policy on Social media use. Find out About our services.