Guidance

MIN 716 (M+F) Amendment 1: Changes to the GMDSS process in the UK.

Updated 9 May 2025

Notice to all Shipowners, Operators, Masters, Skippers, Officers, Cadets, and those concerned with maritime training.

You can find further details for course approvals and how to maintain approval, in MSN 1865 Amendment 1 Annex F.

This MIN should be read in conjunction with MSN 1864 Amendment 1, MSN 1865 Amendment 1, MSN 1903 (M). This MIN is for guidance only.

This MIN expires 31 May 2026.

1. Introduction

1. The approval and monitoring of GMDSS courses have been delegated to an associated body on behalf of the MCA. AMERC will continue to provide this service until 12 May 2025.

2. As part of AMERC’s role, they carry out the approval of courses and the administration of examinations for the GMDSS certificates issued by the MCA.

3. The MCA oversaw quality assurance for the course approval process through a service contract with AMERC, which included an audit of them.

4. The MCA will be taking on the responsibility of approving GMDSS courses. This will be in line with our current short course approval process set out in in Annex F of MSN 1865 (Amendment 1).  Exams will continue to be completed by the training centre.

5. The process for the issuance of GMDSS certificates and the endorsement will also be changing. This process is set out in section 3 of this MIN.

6. AMERC will issue GMDSS certification until the 21 April 2025. After this date, these responsibilities will be transferred to the MCA.

7. Section 4 covers Long Range Certificates (LRC) - further information will follow.

2. Impact on MCA Approved GMDSS Training Centres

1. For Training Centres delivering GMDSS and Radio Operator Courses, there will be no major changes to the structure of the existing courses. Centres will still be able to conduct GMDSS and Radio Operator Courses as prescribed in MSN 1864 (M) as amended. It should be noted that the syllabus is currently under review with the goal of modernising it to reflect onboard practices.

2. Prior to 31 March 2025, each centre will need to forward the following documentation to stc.courses@mcga.gov.uk:

• The Training Centres Quality Management System that pertains to GMDSS Courses,
• The proposed procedure for the Examination
• A sample Course Completion Certificate (to be issued from 21 April - see 2.8)
• A CV for each trainer and assessor they intend to use. The format of the CV can be found in Annex A. The requirements for the trainer and assessor can be found in the GMDSS MNTB Guide.

3. Centres currently approved by AMERC will remain approved up until the date that their current approval expires, at which point they will need to apply to stc.courses@mcga.gov.uk for re-approval.

4. The MCA will adhere to the Short Course Approval Process as detailed in Annex F of MSN 1865 (Amendment 1). It is important to note that a specific GMDSS approval will be outlined in MSN 1864, as amended, and will undergo a centre-wide consultation. The “MCA Approved Training Provider (ATP)” pages will be updated accordingly with those centres approved.

5. As per MSN 1865 Amendment 1 Annex F, the trainer and assessor must be separate individuals. Centres may use independent assessor not employed by the centre if they choose to, but they should still inform the MCA of the assessor they intend to use, as per the requirements of 2.2.

6. For new training centres that wish to obtain MCA approval to run these courses, please follow the approval process outlined in MSN 1865 Amendment 1, Annex F. Training centres should contact stc.courses@mcga.gov.uk for any submission/approval queries.

7. Further details regarding the requirements for producing a final assessment are outlined in Annex B of this MIN. Additionally, sample Course Completion Certificates are provided in Annex Ei, Eii and Eiii.

8. To assist candidates, centres are required to issue the new style course completion certificates to candidates from 21 April so they can apply directly to the MCA for a GMDSS Certificate. Please refer to section 3 of this MIN.

3. Information for Candidates

1. Upon successful completion of a GMDSS training course and examination, 1. candidates will be issued with a course completion certificate from the training centre. If the candidate fails the examination, the centre may, at its discretion, issue a certificate of attendance to allow for one further resit at the centre. Resits must be taken within 2 weeks.

2. Candidates who successfully pass a GMDSS GOC or ROC examination on/from the 21 April 2025 must be advised to retain their exam Course Completion Certificate and after the 12 May the candidate can then directly submit it to the MCA using application form MSF 4354.

3. Application form MSF 4354 will be updated to reflect the new process. 1. The application form will need to be completed and submitted to the MCA following the successful completion of an MCA-approved GMDSS course and examination. If you are submitting your application at the same time as applying for an MCA Certificate of Competency (CoC), you will only need to submit the application form for the CoC you are applying for; you will not be required to complete a separate GMDSS Application form (MSF 4354).

4. The cost for issuing a GMDSS certificate after successfully completing an MCA-approved course will be £77.00, plus courier. With the removal of a delegated provider for this service, there is no longer an admin fee payable to them. Therefore, each centre is expected to reduce the cost of the course and final assessment by at least £77.00. This ensures that candidates will not have to pay a higher overall cost for the course and certificate issuance. Candidates who successfully completed the course before 09 May will not need to submit a fee when applying to the MCA for the GMDSS Certificate. The course completion certificate will show the MCA that they have already paid a fee for the issue Certificate.

5. Candidates who have successfully completed the course but have not yet applied to AMERC for a GMDSS Booklet are strongly advised to hold onto their course completion certificates until 12 May 2025. After this date, they should apply directly to the MCA to receive the new streamlined service. Training centres are requested to pass on this advice to candidates. This will ensure that applications are not lost in transit due to the transfer of this service from AMERC to the MCA. Additionally, those requiring an STCW Endorsement (see section 3.6 of this MIN) will also receive the new streamlined service.

6. Candidates who successfully completed the course between the 21 April and the 12 May will not need to submit a fee when applying to the MCA for the GMDSS Certificate. The Course completion certificate will show the MCA that they have already paid a fee for the issue Certificate.

7. Where a candidate requires an STCW Endorsement, meaning they intend to use it on seagoing merchant vessels (not fishing vessels), the MCA will issue them a GMDSS certificate that complies with the Convention. As is currently the case, they will need to revalidate every five years. If this GMDSS revalidation is done simultaneously with their CoC revalidation or upgrade, there will be no charge for this service. Candidates will only need to complete the revalidation application form or the applicable Deck CoC Application form. GMDSS certificates with STCW Endorsements will require candidates to demonstrate their eligibility to work on merchant vessels. Therefore, candidates will need to show that they are medically fit for sea through the submission of a valid ENG 1 or accepted equivalent, and that they have the required STCW safety training in date (as required for a CoC). A list of the requirements will be set out in the GMDSS (MSF 4354) or Revalidation (MSF 4201) application forms.

8. The fee for the revalidation for a standalone GMDSS STCW Endorsement will be £54, plus courier.

9. Candidates who do not require an STCW Endorsement (fishers, oil rig workers etc.) will still need to apply to the MCA for the GMDSS certificate; however, they will not need to provide evidence of medical fitness or STCW safety training with their application for a GMDSS.

10. A flow chart summarising the new application process is provided in Annex Ci and (initial/first) Cii (revalidation) of this MIN.

4. Long Range Certificates (LRC)

1. Centres approved to carry out this training and assessment will be approved by the MCA in line with your GMDSS Re-approval.

2. Candidates who successfully complete this course will receive a course completion certificate. Starting from 12 May 2025, they can use this certificate to apply for an LRC Certificate using application for MSF 4354.

More information will follow.

5. Queries relating to approval process

1. For any queries regarding these changes, GMDSS training centres should contact the MCA Exams team in the first instance by emailing exams@mcga.gov.uk.

6. More information

UK Seafarers Training and Certification Branch
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/19
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Email: exams@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

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

Published: April 2025

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