Regulator profile
MCA
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Enforcement Regulator4 areas of regulation · 2 official guidance documents · 216 laws enforced · UK-wide
What MCA does
Maritime safety regulator responsible for implementing UK and international maritime law. Provides 24-hour search and rescue coordination. Issues certifications for ships and seafarers. Enforces ship safety, security, pollution prevention, and seafarer welfare standards. Operates UK Ship Register and HM Coastguard.
Additional information
Executive agency of DfT. Headquarters in Southampton. 24-hour Coastguard Operations Centres around UK coast.
Contact MCA
Types of regulation
Official guidance from MCA
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
Legal framework
Legislation that MCA directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 Act 1990
- Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 Act 1990
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 Act 1995
- Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 Act 1997
- Merchant Shipping (Pollution) Act 2006 Act 2006
- Seafarers Wages Act 2023 Act 2023
- Coastguard Act 1925 Act
Secondary legislation
- The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993 UK Statutory Instrument 1993
- The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 UK Statutory Instrument 1997
- Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998 UK Statutory Instrument 1998
- The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998 UK Statutory Instrument 1998
- The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999 UK Statutory Instrument 1999
- The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel ) (INF Code) Regulations 2000 UK Statutory Instrument 2000
- The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB Registration) Regulations 2000 UK Statutory Instrument 2000
- The Merchant Shipping (Fees)(Amendment) Regulations 2000 UK Statutory Instrument 2000
- The Merchant Shipping (Formal Investigations) (Amendment) Rules 2000 UK Statutory Instrument 2000
- The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Ships Other Than Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 UK Statutory Instrument 2000
- ... and 199 more statutory instruments
Related legislation
Legislation connected to MCA's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Establishing / enabling
Administered / monitored
-
The Civil Jurisdiction (Application to Offshore Renewable Energy Installations ) Order 2009
UK Statutory Instrument 2009 -
The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018
UK Statutory Instrument 2018
Sectors regulated
Coverage area
UK-wide