UK seafarer careers: Training provision, information and examination syllabuses
Training for seafarers including: career information, written and oral exam syllabuses and details for nautical colleges and training centres
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) collect and retain personal information provided on the medical examination of seafarers report form (ENG 2) the seafarer medical examination notice of failure/restriction (ENG 3), the certificate of medical fitness (ENG 1), and any seafarer medical report forms (ML5), which are referred to MCA for assessment.
We will use this information to fulfil our duties as stated in the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010 (which implement the UK’s international obligations under Maritime Labour Convention, 2006), the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C.188) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW).
To find out more about how the MCA look after personal data, your rights and how to contacts our data protection officer please go to the MCA personal information charter page.
STCW Review Survey Summary Report
Foundation degrees
Deck and engineer officers can study in areas of marine operation and marine engineering. Study programmes include studying for the officer of the watch (OOW) seafarer qualification. Courses cover management competencies as well as technical content. Foundation degrees are not available in Scotland but you can study equivalent programmes for merchant navy qualifications. These cover the same content as the foundation degree.
Higher National Diploma (HND) or Higher National Certificate (HNC) certificates
HND and HNC qualifications lead to a UK Certificate of Competency (CoC). Those issued by Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and Edexel must be completed in an MCA approved training centre if they are being used towards gaining a CoC. In some cases there are collaborative schemes with overseas colleges where the qualifications are gained through an approved UK training centre – these are known as 1+1 schemes.
Careers at sea – merchant navy opportunities
Find more information about entry routes and training below.
Careers at Sea leaflet Visit the Careers at sea website.
Nautical colleges, yacht deck training providers and small vessel engineer training providers
Find contact details for MCA approved
running courses leading to a UK Certificate of Competency (CoC).Training centres
MCA-approved training centres deliver STCW short/ancillary training courses such as:
- advanced fire fighting
- ship security officer training
- specialised tanker training
Find contact details for MCA approved training providers (ATP) running specific courses.
UK marine offices
Telephone and fax numbers for all UK Marine Offices and locations on a map. Opening hours are listed where available.
For the latest guidance on oral exams, please refer to MIN 675.
Oral exam syllabuses
Deck and engineer officers sit oral exams to gain their certificates of competency. Find the syllabuses in the marine guidance note below.
- MIN 653 (M) Deck Oral Exam Syllabus
- MIN 654 (M) Engineering and Electro-technical Officer Oral Exam Syllabus
- MCA Oral Examination Syllabus
- MCA Oral Examination Syllabuses
- MCA Oral Examination Syllabuses
- for Merchant Navy and Small Vessels
- for Merchant Navy and Small Vessels
- for Chief Mate unlimited tonnage near coastal Reg II/2
- for Master unlimited tonnage near coastal Reg II/2
- for Master less than 3,000 GT, specified area, Reg II/3
- MCA Oral Examination Syllabuses (Class 1, 2 and 3)
- MCA Oral Examination Syllabus (Class 2)
- UK Legal and Administrative Processes - Grade 2:
Written examination syllabuses
Deck officers written examination syllabus:
Engineer officers written examination syllabus:
Deck yacht officers written examination syllabus:
Engineer yacht and small vessel written examination/course syllabus:
Small Vessel Engineer written examination/course syllabus:
Workboat less than 500 GT syllabus:
1 day Small Workboat stability course syllabus:
Small Ships Navigation & Radar (Workboat Code 3) course syllabus:
For consultation reference
Electro-Technical Rating tasks
Royal Naval MoUs
The MCA has memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Royal Navy regarding converting to gain civilian certification. These are shown in Flowcharts detailed below:
External maritime organisations
Find links below to various organisations that can provide further information on nautical training, for example:
- Association of Marine Electronics and Radio Colleges(AMERC)
- Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
- International Association of Marine Institutions (IAMI)
- International Yacht Training Worldwide
- Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB)
- UK NARIC
- Royal Institute of Naval Architecture (RINA)
- Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
- Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
- Seafish
Last updated 6 March 2024 + show all updates
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Removal of COVID-19 Section
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Small Ships Navigation & Radar syllabus (WBC3) added
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SMEOL oral exam syllabus added
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Updated list of Nautical Colleges and Yacht Training Providers
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MEOL added to 'Oral exam syllabuses' section
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The Yacht Oral Examination Syllabuses have been added to the Oral Exam Syllabuses section.
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The underpinning Marine Notices detailing the MCA's COVID-19 response have now expired and, as such, the associated guidance has been removed.
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Workshop Skills Training Added
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BML and VTS COVID-19 Guidance removed
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Updated the guidance for Vessels having difficulties requiring replacement Medical Stores due to COVID-19
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MGN 69 replaced by MIN 653 and 654, Fishing CoC Oral Exam Syllabuses added, updated MIN 620 link.
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Syllabuses for GES I & II have been updated with the following: 1. Document split in two, one for GES I and another for GES II. 2. "Fluids at Rest" and "Transverse Stability" modules have been moved to GES II, they are now located in the "Naval Architecture" section. 3. "Units" module removed from GES I "Mechanics" section. 4. "Arithmetic" module removed from GES I "Mathematics" section.
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Updated MCA approved SV Training Provider list
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Updated: 1) Coronavirus (COVID-19): Contingency Plan and Guidelines for the services provided to Seafarers and Shipowners by the MCA; 2) Coronavirus (COVID-19): Revised medical certification policy information for Merchant Seafarers and Fishermen; 3) Coronavirus (COVID-19): Medical examination policy information for ML5 medical certificate holders; 4) Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Vessels having difficulties requiring replacement Medical Stores.
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Removed: 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): Timeline for Oral Exams and the Issue of New NOEs'
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Updated VTS guidance during COVID-19 lockdown
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Updated: Coronavirus (COVID-19): MCA approved course delivery and Oral and Written Examination information. New: HNC-only exemptions from Second Engineer III/2 Academic Subjects deadline extended and Short Course reapprovals.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): 'Fishermen's Short Course Requirements' updated
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Updated: MCA-approved course delivery, oral exams and written exams during COVID-19 period
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Updated PDF - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Contingency Plan and Guidelines for the services provided to Seafarers and Shipowners by the MCA.
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Added Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tanker Training Requirements
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Have removed outdated document and replaced with link to current MIN (currently MIN 632 Amendment 1)
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Updated Guidance for Vessels having difficulties requiring replacement Medical Stores
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Updated the 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): Revised medical certification policy information for Merchant Seafarers and Fishermen' and 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Vessels having difficulties requiring replacement Medical Stores'.
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Removed Norwich as an exam centre and added Colchester. Also, added link to MIN 620 (latest guidance on oral exams during the COVID-19 lockdown) in UK marine offices section.
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Updated 'Nautical colleges, yacht deck training providers and small vessel engineer training providers'
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Timeline for Oral Exams and the Issue of New NOEs added
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Updated: MCA Approved Course Delivery, Written Exams an Oral Exams During COVID -19 Period
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Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19): Contingency Plan and Guidelines for the services provided to Seafarers and Shipowners by the MCA. Added: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Maritime Labour Convention 2006
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Added COVID-19: College Exam Assessment Policy
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Updated COVID-19: MCA approved course delivery and Oral and Written Examination information Added COVID-19: Guidance for Vessels having difficulties replacing medical stores
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Updated COVID Notices for BML, Ships Cook and Discharge Books. Added COVID Notice for Fishermen's Short Course Requirements
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Updated: Revised medical fitness certificate policy during COVID-19 pandemic information for Merchant Seafarers and Fishermen
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Added COVID-19 ML5 information
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Updated Medical Information.
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Updated guidance for COVID-19
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Updated COVID BML information
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Updated VTS COVID information
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Added COVID-19 information for BML, Ships Cooks, VTS and Discharge Books.
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Updated COVID-19 Medical information.
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Updated COVID-19: MCA approved course delivery and Oral and Written Examination information
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Updated COVID-19 Course delivery information.
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Added ENG1/ML5 doctor information.
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Added information on MCA Approved Course Delivery During COVID -19 Period
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COVID-19 information updated
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Added COVID-19 section
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New AEC 1 & 2 Syllabuses uploaded.
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Updated nautical colleges and training providers
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Added 1 day Small Workboat Stability Syllabus
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Added RN MoUs
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SVE examinations updated
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Updated SVE 2/Eng Syllabi regarding Auxiliary Equipment and Operational Procedures & Basic Hotel Services
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AEC part 2 file updated.
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Oral exam syllabus 'G' added
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AEC Part 2 and Master Yacht Syllabus Updated
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Attachment updated
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Update to Workshop Learning Outcomes
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AEC file updated
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Updated IAMI Engineering EK Control syllabus
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Added Workshop Learning Outcomes and updated AEC 2
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Added UK LAP 2
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Updated Master and OOW Yacht Syllabuses
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Added consultation reference for Model Course for Ratings as Able Seafarer Deck (A-II/5)
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Added Small vessel Syllabus for Chief and Second Engineer
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Added Small Vessel (SV) Engineer MCA Oral Examination Syllabus
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Added Management Level (III/2) Academic Syllabus and Management Level (III/2) Engineering Knowledge (EK) Examinations
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AEC Part 2 added.
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Amended AEC Course and added Oral Exam H and F Syllabi
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Added Engineer yacht officers written examination syllabus: SQA Yacht Engineering Syllabus Approved Engine Course (AEC)
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Added electro-technical officer oral syllabus
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MIN (M) 470 The Government Support for Maritime Training Scheme (SMarT) - Additional Funding £3 million has been replaced by MIN (M) 486 The Government Support for Maritime Training Scheme (SMarT) - Additional Funding £3 million
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First published.