Publication scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-21)

The categories of information the agency publishes, how to get that information and the services we offer.

About this publication scheme

This is the publication scheme for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT). It is not a list of individual publications but rather a description of the classes or types of information that we are committed to publishing.

The scheme is not an exhaustive list of all the types of information that we publish. Our policy is to publish proactively as much information as we can where that information would have a wider public interest.

The scheme does not include information that we consider to be sensitive, such as:
- certain types of commercial or personal information
- information about security matters
- legal advice
Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act commits public authorities to make as much information as possible available to the public proactively. We do this by publishing the data that people need to understand who we are, what we spend and what we achieve.

We are committed to:
- publishing or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the agency and falls within the classes of information
- specifying the information that’s held by the agency and falls within the classifications below
- producing and publishing the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public
- reviewing and updating this publication scheme on a regular basis
- producing a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available
- making this publication scheme available to the public
- publishing any dataset, in electronic form where it’s practical, held by the agency that has been requested, and any updated versions it holds, unless it’s not appropriate to do so
Freedom of Information statistics

The Cabinet Office has responsibility for Freedom of Information policy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and publishes information on the handling of requests.

Freedom of Information (FOI) statistics are published monthly and the MCA’s activity is included within the data for the Department for Transport.

See Freedom of Information (FOI) statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics) for more information.

Classes of information

We are the MCA, an executive agency under DfT.

Who we are and what we do
- the MCA’s organisation structure (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-transport-and-ndpb-structure-charts-organisational-and-salary-disclosure-data)
- the grades, job titles of senior civil servants at SCS2 and above (https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/eb7facfa-6fc5-45d2-840f-04e91cbd80fb/organogram-of-staff-roles-salaries)
- our Gender pay gap information (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dft-gender-pay-gap-report-and-data-2022/dft-gender-pay-gap-report-and-data-2022#gender-pay-gap-report) gathered by the DfT
- the Workforce Management Information (https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/8740c89f-5569-4429-bc9f-308d6edd6f5a/workforce-management-information-department-for-transport) is gathered by DfT, and covers payroll by grade, headcount staff numbers and costs
- information on our senior management team on the MCA’s GOV.UK homepage (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency)
- our Office access and opening times (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/access-and-opening) page
What we spend and how we spend it

the MCA’s annual reports and accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mca-annual-reports-and-accounts)

Future commercial contracts for DfT and partners (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-commercial-contracts-for-dft-and-partners), which are open to bidders

Ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings)

Special adviser gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-special-advisers-gifts-hospitality-and-meetings)

Procurement at the MCA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/procurement)

Prompt payment data from DfT (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-prompt-payment-data)

Spend control data from DfT (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-spend-control-data)
- spending for transactions over £25,000 (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-departmental-spending-over-25000)
- DfT: spending over £500 (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-spending-over-500)
What our priorities are and how we are doing

About us - Maritime and Coastguard Agency (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about)

list of MCA business plans – DfT business plans (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/department-for-transport-business-plan#transport-organisation-business-plans)

the MCA’s annual reports and accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mca-annual-reports-and-accounts)

How we make decisions

the MCA’s policy papers and consultations (https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations?organisations%5b%5d=maritime-and-coastguard-agency&parent=maritime-and-coastguard-agency)

our research and statistics (https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?organisations%5b%5d=maritime-and-coastguard-agency&parent=maritime-and-coastguard-agency)

Our policies and procedures

Civil Service conduct and guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-conduct-and-guidance)

the MCA’s equality and diversity information (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/equality-and-diversity)
- the MCA’s complaints procedure (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/complaints-procedure)
- the MCA’s personal information charter (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about/personal-information-charter)
Lists and registers

the MCA’s Freedom of Information releases (https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?content_store_document_type%5B%5D=foi_release&organisations%5B%5D=maritime-and-coastguard-agency&order=updated-newest)

Ships and cargoes guidance and bulletins (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ships-and-cargoes-guidance-and-bulletins)

UK Approved Recommendations – Marine Equipment (https://www.gov.uk/marine-equipment-approved-recommendations)

Approved service stations for SOLAS certificated inflatable life rafts, lifeboats and life jackets (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approved-service-stations-for-liferafts-boats-and-life-jackets)

Search and rescue helicopter statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/search-and-rescue-helicopter-statistics)

The services we offer

a list of the services offered by the MCA (https://www.gov.uk/search/services?organisations%5b%5d=maritime-and-coastguard-agency&parent=maritime-and-coastguard-agency)

the fees the MCA charges for a range of services (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maritime-coastguard-agency-mca-fees)

the MCA’s press releases (https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications?organisations%5b%5d=maritime-and-coastguard-agency&parent=maritime-and-coastguard-agency)

The MCA also produces a range of free publications and safety materials aimed at the general public, industry and businesses.

These free materials cover:

coastal safety

commercial fishing

commercial seafarers

watersports and boating

Items can be ordered (subject to availability) from the MCA’s safety materials ordering service (https://mca-ws.apsmos.com/).

You can order priced publications, which are printed because of their size or the legal requirements to have a print version available, via the TSO webshop (https://www.tsoshop.co.uk/).

The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available

Where information is published under this scheme, the relevant links to the MCA and GOV.UK website pages are provided.

If you would like to request a different format of the published information, you can do this by contacting xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

There may be some information that is only able to be viewed in person. Where this is required, this will be facilitated via the Information Access Team at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). The MCA commits that an appointment to view the information will be arranged in a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where an authority is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

Charges that may be made for information published under this scheme

Material that is published and accessed on a website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

photocopying

postage and packaging

the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

Written requests

You can request information that the agency holds that’s not published under this scheme, which will be considered in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Learn how to make a request (https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/the-freedom-of-information-act) and check previous releases (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5b%5d=maritime-and-coastguard-agency&publication_type=foi-releases).

Send requests to the following address:

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

Information Access Team Spring Place 105 Commercial Road Southampton SO15 1EG