Guidance

MIN 538 Amendment 6 (M) Codes of practice – authorisation of certifying authorities

Published 28 March 2024

1. Summary

1.1 The purpose of this MIN is to provide contact details of MCA authorised Certifying Authorities.

2. Introduction/background

2.1 Certifying Authorities undertake survey and certification work under the Small Commercial Vessel Codes of Practice or MGN 280 (M)[2]. The Codes of Practice are as follows:

• The Safety of Small Commercial Sailing Vessels – A Code of Practice (Blue Code)

• The Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels – A Code of Practice (Yellow Code)

• The Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure operating from a Nominated Departure Point (NDP) (Red Code)

• The Police Boat Common Code (PBC3) + Codes A, B, C, D^{[footnote 1]}

• MGN 280 (M) - Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats – Alternative Construction Standards (available as an alternative standard to the Small Commercial Vessel Codes of Practice)^{[footnote 2]}

• The Workboat Code Edition 3 The Safety of Small Workboats and Pilot Boats – A Code of Practice

• For existing vessels, transitional arrangements are set out in Workboat Code Edition 3.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 Certifying Authorities are authorised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to examine and certificate small commercial vessels in accordance with the applicable requirements.

3.2 A Certifying Authority is responsible for each certificate it issues, and the relationship between the Certifying Authority and a vessel owner / managing agent is direct. This does not supersede the Code requirement that an owner is responsible for ensuring that their vessel complies with the requirements applicable to that vessel.

3.3 It is the responsibility of the owner / managing agent to ensure that a vessel is properly maintained, examined and manned in accordance with the relevant Code.

3.4 The Certifying Authorities listed under section 4 are authorised as Inspectors of Marks for the purpose of verifying Carving and Marking Notes on UK ships of less than 24 metres in length.

3.5 The Certifying Authorities listed under section 4 are also authorised to undertake inspections in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention on Coded vessels of less than 24 metres in length. However, Certifying Authorities may only undertake an MLC inspection on Small Commercial Vessels for which they currently provide survey and certifications services.

4. List of Certifying Authorities

4.1 The following is a list of the head offices of Certifying Authorities authorised through formal agreement to conduct survey and certification of all types of small commercial vessels against the standards of the Small Commercial Vessel Codes or MGN 280 (M).

Bureau Veritas

Suite 1 & 2, Keel House
Tyne Dock
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE34 9PY

Tel: 0191 427 8170

Fax: 0191 427 8171

Email: gbr_clo@uk.bureauveritas.com

Burness Corlett Three Quays International Limited

Office 5
Horton Park
Berwick Hill Road
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE13 6BU

Tel: +44 (0) 333 202 7154

Fax: +44 (0) 333 202 7156

Email: smallshipsca@bctq.com

DNV - Maritime

24 Steel House
4300 Parkway
Solent Business Park
Whiteley
Hampshire
PO15 7FP

Tel: 023 80 74 5940

Email: uk.flag.contact@dnv.com

International Institute of Marine Surveying

Murrills House
48 East Street
Portchester
PO16 9XS

Tel: 023 92 38 5223

Email: ca@iims.org.uk

Lloyd’s Register EMEA

One Temple Quay
Temple Back East
Bristol
BS1 6DZ

Tel: 0117 3190110

Email: MCA.CodesofPractice@lr.org

MECAL Ltd

Office Suite 4
Endeavour House
Oceansgate
Devonport
Plymouth
PL1 4RW

Tel:  01752 251211

Email: admin@mecal.co.uk

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Domestic Survey Operations
Bay 2/20
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Tel: 020 381 72190 / 72456

Email: Domestic.Fleet@mcga.gov.uk

Royal Yachting Association

RYA House
Ensign Way
Hamble
Southampton
SO31 4YA

Tel: 023 8060 4100

Email: scvcert@rya.org.uk

RINA Services S.p.A.

North Wing, 1st Floor
2 Charlotte Place
Southampton
SO14 0TB
United Kingdom

Tel:  023 80 33 2271

Email: uk.marine@rina.org

Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors

Ground Floor
Unit 5, Prospect House
7 Ocean Way
Southampton
SO14 3TJ

Tel: 023 80 016494

Email: sec@scmshq.org

Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association

The Glass Works
3b Penns Road
Petersfield
Hampshire
GU32 2EW

Tel:  01730 710425

Email: ca@ybdsa.co.uk

5. Applications to act as a Certifying Authority

5.1 Organisations wishing to act as a Certifying Authority should make a formal request in writing to the address at the bottom of this notice. Upon receiving a request, the criteria for acting as a Certifying Authority will be provided by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

5.2 With any new applications, MCA are required to assess whether the additional audit burden through further appointments or delegations would be in the public interest as required under the treasury rules.  The MCA reserves the right to decline applications not meeting the above criteria. This is in accordance with the principles of the HM Treasury paper ‘Managing Public Money’.

6. More information

Maritime Governance, Improvement and Assurance
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 3/07
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Email: ExternalMonitoring@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.

1. The Police Codes are an “equivalent” code, but may ONLY be used for Police Craft ↩

2. From 13 December 2023, the Alternative Construction Standards published in the Annex to MGN 280(M) may only be used for vessels operating for sport or pleasure. ↩