Maritime & Coastguard Agency MIN 611

Maritime & Coastguard Agency MIN 611

March 22 , 2021

Maritime & Coastguard Agency

MIN 611 – Amendment 2

Introduction
1.1 The MCA has put in place contingency plans to mitigate disruption to essential delivered
services due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has allowed the MCA to
continue to issue or extend UK Certificates of Competency (CoC), UK Flag State
Endorsements (FSE)/ Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CEC) and UK Certificates of
Proficiency (CoP). In order to allow us to best follow these plans, we request that all
seafarers in the process of applying to the MCA for UK certification follow the guidance
below.
2. Guidance
2.1 From the publication date of this MIN, the MCA advises all seafarers to retain full and
complete copies of any documentation (including application forms) that is required to be
sent to the MCA. Further to the original guidance, the MCA’s process for applications has
been updated in line with MIN 655 sections 3, 4 and 5.
2.2 For a UK CoC holder, the MCA can provide an exemption for those officers who are on
board a vessel and their safety training has expired. This will be based on a self-declaration
(as per the STCW 2010 Manilla Amendment requirements). This will be reviewed in the
future taking into account the needs of the industry and the global outlook on COVID-19.
Ship owners/operators should email exams@mcga.gov.uk to request this exemption.
– 2 –
2.3 In addition, the UK has put in place the following measures to enable seafarers with UK
Certification, who cannot access training centres due to COVID-19, to work on board ships
and support international trade by allowing:
• The extension of validity to Certificates of Proficiency for Emergency,
Occupational Safety and Survival Functions as defined in Chapter VI of the
STCW Convention and Code, until 31 December 2021.
• The extension of validity to Certificates of Proficiency for Tankers, Passenger
Ships, ships subject to the IGF code and ships subject to the Polar Code as
defined in Chapter V of the STCW Convention and Code, until 31 December
2021.
2.4 Further guidelines and Contingency Plans for the services provided to Seafarers and
Shipowners by the MCA can be found through the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-seafarer-careers-training-provision-andinformation#coronavirus-covid-19-contingency-plan-and-guidelines-forseafarers

More Information
UK Seafarer Services
Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
Bay 2/11
Spring Place,
105 Commercial Road,
Southampton,
SO15 1EG.
e-mail: exams@mcga.gov.uk