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Coastguard
Agency Working at sea: certification, health and safety UK Civil Hydrography Programme Apply for a boatmasters' licence Commercial fishing and fisheries UK Ship Register Seafarer medical certification and advice Seafarer certification: working on a UK registered vessel Ships and cargoes: detailed information and marine notices Coastguard search and rescue Order free safety materials All MCA services and information
Featured Small Fishing Vessel Code enters into force

Press release

The Maritime Coastguard Agency Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels now includes a requirement for fishing boats to be inspected both in and out of the water every five years.

International safety rules for High Speed Craft brought into force

Press release

International rules on safety levels for High Speed Craft (HSC) are being brought into force under UK law.

Shortlist of bidders announced for the next decade of Coastguard search and rescue aviation

Press release

The shortlist of companies being invited to tender for the next generation of search and rescue aviation has been announced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels

Press release

Surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels across the UK.

“It could easily be you” warn those who have been rescued by HM Coastguard

News story

Coastguards across the UK are warning those planning to go anywhere near the coast or beaches over the Easter period to be on their guard.

Coronavirus Guidance

Press release

For commercial seafarers and recreational boat users

Latest from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency MSN 1829 (M) Ship to ship transfer regulations 2020 Guidance Strategic Overview of SAR in the UK Guidance MIN 658 (M) Food and catering COVID-19 online approved courses Guidance

See all latest documents

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What the Maritime and Coastguard Agency does

We work to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea. We produce legislation and guidance on maritime matters, and provide certification to seafarers.

MCA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Transport.

Read more about what we do

Documents Services Transport support services for disabled people Get a seaman's discharge book or British seaman's card See all services Guidance and regulation How to revalidate a UK Certificate of Competency Guidance MCA approved doctors UK based Guidance See all guidance and regulation News and communications Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during September 2021 Press release New digital emergency Beacon Registry service goes online today Press release See all news and communications Research and statistics ENG1 and ML5 annual medical reports and summaries Research and analysis Search and rescue helicopter statistics: data tables (SARH) Statistical data set See all research and statistics Policy papers and consultations Proposed amendments to the Merchant Shipping (STCW) Regulations 2021 Consultation outcome Consultation on draft regulations for the control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments Closed consultation See all policy papers and consultations Transparency and freedom of information releases DfT: prompt payment data 2021 to 2022 Transparency data DfT: spend control data for April to June 2021 Transparency data See all transparency and freedom of information releases
Our management Brian Johnson Chief Executive
Christopher Rodrigues CBE Non-Executive Chairman
Claire Hughes Director of Her Majesty's Coastguard
Katy Ware Director of UK Maritime Services
Contact MCA HM Coastguard and Marine Offices For local rescue phone numbers, click the link.
United Kingdom

Contact Form: HM Coastguard and Marine Offices

Emergency contact number for the nearest coastguard

999

Head office Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
United Kingdom

Email

infoline@mcga.gov.uk

Main switchboard

0203 817 2000

For General enquiries

Press office

Email

public.relations@mcga.gov.uk

Press enquiries

020381 72222 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm)

Outside these hours or on bank holidays and weekends, for media enquiries ONLY, please send an email to public.relations@mcga.co.uk outlining your query and putting #Urgent in the subject title.

Out of hours duty surveyor

Technical Enquiries

+44 (0)7810 528504

Note that this service is for Urgent Technical Enquiries that require action out of office hours only. This number must not be used for any urgent or routine enquires during normal office hours.

All enquiries during office hours, including, but not limited to, technical enquiries, enquiries on registration of ships or seafarer’s certification should use the contact details on the list provided here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/access-and-opening

UK Ship Register Customer Services: merchant and bareboat charter registration
MCA HQ
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG


United Kingdom

Email

ukshipregister@mcga.gov.uk

Merchant Ships

023 8032 9197

Small Ships

+44(0)29 2044 8813

Fishing Vessels

+44(0)29 2044 8855

Pleasure Vessels

+44(0)29 2044 8866

7:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Seafarer training and certification

Seafarer training and certification switchboard

0203 817 2200

Phone lines are open 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Seafarer training and certification: deck training

Email

deck@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: boatmaster training

Email

boatmaster@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: FSE/CEC

Email

fse@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: engineering training

Email

engineering@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: exams section

Email

exams@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: revalidation team

Email

revalidation@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: safemanning team

Email

safemanning@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: smart team

Email

smart@mcga.gov.uk

Seafarer training and certification: STC courses

Email

stc.courses@mcga.gov.uk

UK Beacon Registry

Email

ukbeacons@mcga.gov.uk

Telephone:

+44 (0)20 3817 2006

Fax:

+44 (0)1326 319264

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except public holidays).

Make an FOI request Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request. Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question. Make a new request by contacting us using the details below. Freedom of Information requests

Email

mca_publication_scheme@mcga.gov.uk

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