Seafarer Operations contact details
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-24)

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: xx-xxxx-xxxx

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

Phone lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday (closed on UK bank holidays (https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays#england-and-wales)).

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: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

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: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Engineering certification

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

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

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: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

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: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Registry of Shipping and Seamen

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Phone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Phone lines are open 7:30am to 5:30pm, 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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/access-and-opening#marine-office-contact-details) or RSS directly.

Exams contact details

Exams team

For all enquiries on certification verification.

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Safe Manning

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

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Boatmaster’ Licence policy

Enquiries about boatmaster’ policy.

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Oral exam booking

For exam bookings and exam issues only.

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Support for Maritime Training

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

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Phone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Training courses

For training providers queries relating to short course approvals.

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)