Guidance

Seafarer Operations contact details

Contact details for the Seafarer Operations team – formerly Seafarer Training and Certification – including email and phone numbers for training, certification and boatmaster enquiries.

Seafarer Operations

Seafarer Operations switchboard

Phone: +44 (0) 333 399 0040

Contact the Seafarer Operations switchboard for all enquiries relating to training and certification.

Phone lines are open 8:15am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday (closed on UK bank holidays).

If you need to contact Seafarer Operations outside these hours or on a UK bank holiday, please email the relevant team.

Revalidation of certification

Revalidation of a UK deck or engineering Certificates of Competency (CoC) – excludes Flag State Endorsement (FSE) or Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CEC) and stand-alone Global Management Distress Safety System (GMDSS) revalidation .

Email: revalidation@mcga.gov.uk

Deck certification

Applications for a Notice of Eligibility (NoE), Certificate of Competency (CoC), Rating Certificate, Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Logbook or MCA-issued Certificates of Proficiency.

Email: deck@mcga.gov.uk

Engineering certification

Applications for a Notice of Eligibility (NoE) Certificate of Competency (CoC) Rating Certificate or MCA-issued Certificates of Proficiency.

Email: engineering@mcga.gov.uk

Flag State Endorsement and Certificates of Equivalent Competency

Applications for, or revalidation of, a Flag State Endorsement (FSE), Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC), Authority to Operate Certificate (ATO) or UK Legal and Administrative Processes (UKLAP).

Email: fse@mcga.gov.uk

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

Applications for a UK GMDSS, UK GMDSS STCW Endorsement, UK Long Range Certificate, or the revalidation of a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) STCW endorsement.

Email: GMDSS@mcga.gov.uk

Registry of Shipping and Seamen

Email: seafarers.registry@mcga.gov.uk

Phone: +44 (0) 333 399 0039

Phone lines are open 7:30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 9am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday.

Contact the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS) to enquire about:

  • Seaman’s Discharge Book – applications if you’re a British seafarer or are working on a UK-registered ship or yacht
  • British Seaman’s Card – applications for a card if you’re a British citizen
  • Ships’ Cook Certificate of Competency – applications for an MCA-issued Ships’ Cook Certificate of Competency
  • registering births and deaths in the following circumstances – a person who has given birth or died on board a UK-registered vessel, or a British citizen who has been born or died on board a non-UK-registered vessel
  • applying for World War 2 and post-war medals for people who identify as having served as part of the British Merchant Navy during World War 2 and post-war campaigns

Boatmasters’ Licence (BML)

To enquire about a boatmaster application contact your Local marine office or RSS directly.

Exams contact details

Exams team

For all enquiries on certification verification.

Email: exams@mcga.gov.uk

Safe Manning

Applications for a Safe Manning Certification or a Safe Manning Exemption.

Email: safemanning@mcga.gov.uk

Boatmaster’ Licence policy

Enquiries about boatmaster’ policy.

Email: boatmaster@mcga.gov.uk

Oral exam booking

For exam bookings and exam issues only.

Email: onlineoralexams@mcga.gov.uk

Support for Maritime Training

For enquiries about funding for Support for Maritime Training (SMarT).

Email: smart@mcga.gov.uk

Phone: 020 3817 2209

Training courses

For training providers queries relating to short course approvals.

Email: stc.courses@mcga.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 20 August 2024
Last updated 7 October 2025 show all updates
  1. Re-ordering, wording clarification and correction of Seafarer Operations phone opening hours.

  2. The STC phone number and RSS phone number was updated to the new Smart numbers STC from 02038172200 to 03333990040 RSS from 02039085200 to 03333990039

  3. Removed safe manning as a telephone contact for seafarer operations

  4. Updated details to include the opening times of the contact centres.

  5. First published.

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