Transport & Logistics UK-wide

Crewing and seafarer certification

If you crew a ship and employ seafarers, your masters, officers and ratings must hold MCA certificates of competency to the STCW standard and a valid ENG1 medical fitness certificate, your ship must meet its safe-manning document, radio operators need GMDSS certification, and you must meet the seafarer-employment standards of the Maritime Labour Convention. This guide covers the crewing and certification regime, on top of the universal workplace duties in the spine guide.

Guide summary

Make sure your masters, officers and ratings hold valid MCA certificates of competency and a valid ENG1 medical certificate. Your ship must follow its safe-manning document and have qualified radio operators with GMDSS certification. You must also meet the seafarer employment standards of the Maritime Labour Convention.

  • Get MCA Certificates of Competency for masters, officers and ratings
  • Renew certificates of competency every 5 years
  • Ensure all seafarers have a valid ENG1 medical certificate
  • Pay £115 for an ENG1 medical check (employer covers this)
  • Get a Safe Manning Document for ships of 500 GT or more
  • Use form MSF 4227 to apply for a Safe Manning Document
  • Make sure radio operators hold GMDSS certification from May 2025
  • Follow the Maritime Labour Convention for seafarer employment
  • Only use MCA-approved doctors for ENG1 medical exams
  • Keep a valid ENG1 for everyone on UK-registered ships
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Related guides in Employment & HR

This guide is for businesses that crew ships and employ seafarers, whether on passenger or cargo vessels. The people who operate your ship must be trained, certified and medically fit, the ship must carry enough qualified crew, and seafarers' employment must meet the standards of the Maritime Labour Convention. The universal workplace duties (health and safety, insurance, equality and data protection) are in Set up and run a safe water transport operation — start there, then work through the regimes below. These MCA regimes apply across the United Kingdom.

A. Certificates of competency (STCW)

Masters, officers and ratings must hold MCA Certificates of Competency or Certificates of Proficiency to the standards of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), given effect by the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022. The 2022 Regulations revoked and replaced the 2015 Regulations. Certificates are role- and tonnage-specific.

B. Seafarer medical fitness (ENG1)

All seafarers on UK-registered ships must hold a valid ENG1 medical fitness certificate, issued after examination by an MCA-approved doctor — you cannot use a seafarer's regular GP unless that GP is MCA-approved.

C. Safe manning

Each ship must carry a minimum number of suitably qualified crew set by its Safe Manning Document, issued by the MCA on application. The document reflects the ship's size, machinery, area of operation and watchkeeping arrangements.

D. Radio operator certification (GMDSS)

Ships operating under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System must carry radio operators holding the appropriate GMDSS certificate of competency. Check the current MCA position on GMDSS qualifications, which has been updated.

E. Seafarer employment (Maritime Labour Convention)

Seafarer employment agreements, hours of work and rest, accommodation, repatriation and medical care must meet the standards of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. Sea-going ships of 500 gross tonnage or more on international voyages must carry a Maritime Labour Certificate, surveyed by the MCA.

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    What to do next

    Confirm the universal duties in the spine guide are in place, then complete the water transport compliance checklist for the crewing and certification items. Crew of inland passenger and freight vessels follow the boatmaster regime in the inland-waters guide.

Official sources

Authoritative guidance on crewing and seafarer certification.