Guidance

MIN 614 (M+F) Amendment 4 Coronavirus (COVID-19) – UK Ship Register approach to registration services for UK Vessels

Published 29 October 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on 16 May 2022

MIN 614 Amendment 4 is no longer current.

1. Introduction

1.1 The UK Ship Register has put in place contingency plans to mitigate disruption to essential ship registration activities during the current worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

1.2 In order to inform you of our plans and specifically how they may affect you during this period we have produced this information note for your reference.

2. Ship Registration

2.1 From the publication date of this MIN we ask those who are; registering, renewing registration or de-registering to make electronic copies of all required documents (including application forms) before submitting to the MCA. If the COVID-19 virus results in disruption to postal services or access to premises issuing certificates, it would then be possible to provide digital scans of all necessary documentation to facilitate the processing of your application.

2.2. UK Ship Register asks applicants to submit all their documents via email to the appropriate processing team. Full postal applications may be submitted but may incur a delay, therefore, we ask for email applications to be the primary route of contact with the Registry. A contact email address for the processing teams can be found within the application forms and at the end of this MIN.

2.3 On receipt of electronic copies of forms and ancillary documentation, the UK Ship Register team will, providing the documents are verified and authenticated, issue a digital copy of the Certificate of Registry.

3. Continuous Synopsis Records

3.1 For those ships that require a Continuous Synopsis Record (passenger ships on international voyages, cargo ships of 500GT and above on international voyages, Class A passenger ships operating domestic services within UK waters), we ask for documents to be submitted electronically and our team will process and issue initially an electronic version and will be followed up by issue of a hard copy record.

3.2 The UK Ship Register as the Administration would like to confirm that we will follow IMO guidelines in issuing Continuous Synopsis Records. Noting that following the receipt of copies of one or more amendment forms, the Administration is required to issue a revised and updated CSR document as soon as practically possible but not later than three months from the date of the change.

4. Civil Liabilities Certification

4.1 Applications for Civil Insurance Liability Certificates may be submitted through the portal: https://ukshipregister.service.mcga.gov.uk/signin Applications will be processed as soon as possible, and digital copies of certificates will be provided via email.

4.2 Insurance Liability Certificates will be issued to reflect the duration of insurance cover and the validity will not be greater than 12 months. Where Certificates are due to expire, new applications should be submitted via email to: uksr@mcga.gov.uk.

4.3 In order to ensure any queries and cancellation notices are dealt with promptly, please can all correspondence related to Insurance Liability Certificates be sent via email to uksr@mcga.gov.uk There may be a delay in response to communication received by other means.

5. Port State Control Officers and other authorised officials

5.1 In the event that verification of documents is required, the MCA may be contacted directly on:

Primary contact: +44 (0) 203 90 85200 – Office Hours (UK Time) Out of office hours: +44 (0)781 05 28504 – Duty Surveyor, Out of Office Hours (UK Time)

6. Contact details and office hours

Registry of Shipping and Seamen Anchor Court Keen Road Cardiff CF24 5JW Office Hours: Monday to Friday 07:30 to 18:00

Email:UKSR@mcga.gov.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 203 90 85200

7. More Information

UK Ship Register
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/17
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
SO15 1EG

Tel: +44 (0) 203 8172373

e-mail: ukshipregister@mcga.gov.uk