MSF 4274 REV 10/18

APPLICATION FOR AN ORAL EXAMINATION LEADING TO

THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY (STCW) FOR
Masters, Chief Mates and Deck Officers in the Merchant Navy MD
IMPORTANT - BEFORE completing this form, please ensure you have read the guidance notes and
instructions on pages 6, 7, 8 and 9. Please provide an email address in block capitals in order for us
to inform you of the receipt of your application (see section 9 of the guidance notes). We do not offer
a counter service.
1 PERSONAL DETAILS

Name
Title Mr/Mrs/Miss/Capt etc Sex: Male/Female

Surname /Family name

Forename(s) in full
Date of Birth
Place of Birth Country of Birth
Nationality

Full home address Address for return of documents

(if different from home address)
Address

District

DOB
Town/City
County/State
Post Code/Zip
Country
Telephone No
Mobile No Email

2 CERTIFICATE APPLIED FOR

Capacity STCW Tonnage Limits (GT) Limitations Please

Reg. (✓ )

SDS
OOW II/3 Less than 500 GT Near Coastal
OOW II/3 Less than 500 GT Category “D” Waters
OOW II/1 None None
Chief Mate II/2 Less than 3000 GT Near Coastal
Chief Mate II/2 Less than 3000 GT None
Chief Mate II/2 None Near Coastal
Chief Mate II/2 None None
Master II/3 Less than 500 GT Near Coastal
Master II/3 Less than 500 GT Category “D” Waters
Master II/2 Less than 3000 GT Specified Area, Domestic Vessels Only
Master II/2 Less than 3000 GT None
Master II/2 None Near Coastal
Master II/2 None None
Please do not write below this line

Received: Fee: SDS No

Receipt No
RMS No
Application ID
NoE ID
CoC No

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 3 SEA SERVICE MD
– take details from your Discharge Book or Certificates of Discharge

Please refer to the flow chart on page 10 for the new sea service requirements. If you are using yacht service you must complete the table on page 9.
Deck Officers – this means service on crew agreement as a Deck Officer. The sea service must be supported by testimonials which include watchkeeping time, which must be signed by the
Master. Please refer to guidance notes (3) on page 6 for the requirements.
ALL RELEVANT SEA SERVICE MUST BE LISTED. If there is insufficient space, please continue on a separate sheet. Sea service on foreign flag ships will be accepted under the same
conditions as service on UK ships provided it can be properly verified.
LENGTH OF VOYAGE: this must be given in calendar months and days, e.g. from 3 January to 5 March = 2 months and 3 days. Odd days should be added together and reckoned at 30 days to
the month.
SHIP AND VOYAGE DETAILS DATES DURATION
Vessel Name Official Number Flag GT Type * Voyage ** Rank/Capacity From To Months Days

2
Total
* Type – you should state whether: Tanker, Cargo, Passenger, Ro-Ro, Supply, Tug, Drilling, Survey, Stand-by, Yacht etc – if Yacht please provide vessel length in metres
** Voyage - you should give the area in which the ship traded using the following codes; U = Unlimited, NC = Near Coastal Area

2
 MD
Before a Notice of Eligibility can be issued, you will need to submit the following
4 CHECKLISTS documentation - Original documents MUST be supplied unless otherwise stated.

CHECKLIST
If you already hold a Certificate of Competency (CoC) or Certificate of Service you must send it in with this application and give
the following details below
4–
Certificate No: Capacity: Country of Issue:

CHECKLIST
4A FOR ALL APPLICATIONS Please Official

6
3000GT)
Attested copy of Passport and Visa if applicable (Please refer to guidance notes) – Please do not send your original
tick (✓) use only

R ALL APPLICATIONS
Discharge Book OR Certificates of Discharge

Sea Service Testimonials which include watchkeeping evidence

Two countersigned passport photographs (please refer to guidance notes)

Valid Medical Fitness Certificate *

Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting <5 years old
Personal Survival Techniques <5 years old
Advanced Fire Fighting <5 years old
Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats <5 years old

* To comply with health and safety requirements in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Training & Certification (Medical Examination)
Regulations 2002 and STCW Regulation I/9, any seafarer employed or engaged in any capacity aboard a seagoing Vessel must hold a valid
medical fitness certificate attesting to their medical fitness for the work for which they are employed. If you are unable to take a solo watch of not
fit for lookout duties you will not be issued with a UK Deck Officer CoC. Medical Fitness Certificates must be valid at the time of issue of
the CoC. This should be re-submitted with your NOE pass.

For a list of MCA approved doctors please visit our website: www.gov.uk and search “MCA approved doctors”.

4B APPLICATIONS FOR FIRST CERTIFICATE

R ALL APPLICATIONS
Candidates following the Foundation Degree OR HNC OR Alternative Route and claiming reduced sea service must tick (✓)
Please Official
use only
provide a letter from their college confirming the route being undertaken – template in MIN 563

STCW – Full course Elementary First Aid (STCW A-VI/1-3)

STCW – Full course Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/1-2)

STCW – Full course Personal Survival Techniques (STCW A-VI/1-1)

STCW – Full course Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW A-VI/1-4)

MNTB approved Training Record Book for candidates claiming reduced sea service*

* Please ensure the following is completed when submitting your MNTB Training Record Book. An incomplete MNTB can lead to
your application taking longer to process or not being approved:
a) Complete all contact details;
b) Ensure that your Designated Shipboard Training Officer (DSTO) has inspected your work and signed to confirm this;
c) All tasks are completed and the appointed supervisor has signed off against them.

Before your CoC can be issued you will be required to submit further documentary evidence of training as
per MSN 1856. These documents are not required for the issue of your NOE, however you may wish to
submit these now. Please refer to section 5 of the Guidance Notes. The documents will be requested on
your NOE.

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 5 DECLARATION (The maximum penalty for a false declaration is £5000)

I declare that the data contained in this application is, to the best of my knowledge, true and complete. I also declare that the
documents are genuine, given and signed by the persons whose names appear on them. I consent to any processing of the data
contained in this application by the MCA (including any processing necessary to establish the authenticity and validity of the issued
certificate). Please refer to our privacy statement in Section 2 of the guidance notes which explains how we use the personal
information we collect from you.

Please sign this form in the centre of the space

opposite, in BLACK BALL POINT PEN, this
will be transferred to your new STCW Certificate.

FOR OFFICIAL USE

IMPORTANT – KEEP WITHIN THE BORDER ONLY
Date……………………………………. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS
INSTRUCTION WILL INVALIDATE THE APPLICATION

Print name ……………………………………………………………………………………

6 COUNTER SIGNATURE
Name

Address

Town / City

County/State

Post Code/Zip Country

Telephone No Occupation

Capacity in which you know the applicant

I declare that the information given is, to the best of my knowledge, true and complete. I also declare that the documents submitted are, to the best
of my knowledge, genuine and relate to the person(s) whose names appear on them. I confirm that the photographs submitted bear a true current
likeness of the applicant.

Signed………………………………………………………………………………. Date…………………………………………………………………

4
 MD
7 PAYMENT

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are sending documents from outside the UK you must indicate to your
courier company that they have no value. Otherwise you may be liable to pay an import tax.
Please enclose the appropriate fee (as laid down in the current Merchant Shipping Fees Regulations)

Payment should be made in pounds sterling (£) by cheque, postal order or banker's draft, BACS, credit or debit card.

Cheques, postal orders and banker’s drafts should be made payable to the "Maritime and Coastguard Agency" and crossed "account payee" and
"not negotiable". Cheques and banker’s drafts should be drawn at a UK bank. CASH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

The fee for an NoE application is £220.00 which includes the cost of a courier service.

The fee for an upgrade with no oral examination is £77. Postage to the UK is an additional £10, postage to Europe is an additional £20 and postage
to the rest of the world is an additional £30

The fee for a combined Master <500 GT near-coastal and Master <3,000 GT Specified Area CoC is £377 including courier service**.

Please tick (✓) the appropriate box below to indicate your chosen method of payment.

Maestro Visa MasterCard Delta Cheque/banker’s draft Postal Orders BACS

Please charge …………………… to my Maestro / Visa / MasterCard

Name of Card Holder

Card Number
Start Date
Expiry Date
Maestro Issue Number (Maestro Cards Only)

Security Code:

The Security Code is the last three digits of the numbers on the reverse of the card the card, near the signature strip.

Signature………………………………………………………………………… Date……………………………………………….

* The upgrade that does not require an oral examination (£77) is: Master less than 3000 GT unlimited area from
Chief Mate unlimited (Please note that the Master unlimited GT, near coastal endorsement now requires a separate oral
examination (£201).

**You may apply for these Certificates of Competency at the same time, however you must meet all the requirements for the issue
of a Master <500 GT near-coastal prior to being issued a Master, less than 3,000 GT, specified trading area NoE.

Receipt: If you would like a receipt please tick (✓ ) the box below and confirm the email address you would like it sent to:

Please issue me with a receipt

Email
address:

For Official Use only:

Name, if different from card holder:

SDS Number:
Email, if not stated above:
All payment details entered on SDS (initial):

5
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS APPLICATION FORM MD
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE NOTES BEFORE COMPLETING THE FORM. YOU SHOULD ALSO REFER TO GUIDANCE
FROM MSN 1856.

Please complete this form in BLOCK LETTERS and in black ink.

ENSURE YOU COMPLETE THIS FORM IN FULL - FAILURE TO DO SO MAY MEAN THAT WE WILL HAVE TO RETURN YOUR APPLICATION TO YOU, AND
WILL RESULT IN A DELAY TO YOUR APPLICATION BEING PROCESSED. The MCA will email you once your application has been received by the branch.
We will then email you if we require any further evidence. You will receive a further email from our courier company once your package has been dispatched.

Enclose all documents necessary to establish your eligibility for examination for an STCW Certificate of Competency. Please do not send your original passport. All
other documents must be ORIGINAL, photocopies will NOT be accepted. A document checklist is on pages 3 & 4 to help you.

If eligible you will be issued with a Notice of Eligibility enabling you to sit an MCA oral examination. The NoE will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

The Notice of Eligibility will advise you how to apply for an appointment for the examination and what you should do once you have taken the examination.

Oral examination passes for each level of certification are valid for three years from the date of the oral exam.

The oral examination pass must be in date at the time of issue of the CoC.

A series of Training and Certification Guidance Notes, giving further details of requirements are available from the Seafarer Training & Certification Branch, the contact
details are below, or they can be found on our website www.gov.uk/mca.

1 PERSONAL DETAILS
ER1SONAL DETAILS
Enter your personal details in the boxes provided. Your name should be given IN FULL, and should be given in the same format as appears in your passport or birth
certificate.

Your date of birth should be given in the format DD/MM/YYYY, e.g. 25 September 1984 would be written 25/09/1984.

You should give your permanent home address, where you are normally resident.

You may also provide an alternative address for return of documents or correspondence relating to this application, e.g. if you are away at college.

Your documents will be returned by courier and will need to be signed for. Please ensure you provide us with the full address details you would like your documents
sent to and you must include a contact telephone number and email address should there be any queries with your delivery.

2 PRIVACY STATEMENT
APPLICATION
Personal information which you supply to us will be used to process your application to meet the applicable Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping
(STCW) requirements. To check and report on how effective the MCA and the services it commissions have been. To make sure that the MCA gives value for money.

TRACKING
We may use your information to investigate complaints, legal claims or important incidents. We may use your information for crime prevention and prosecution of
offenders.
The information you provide is primarily used for issuing your UK Certificate of Competency (CoC)/Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) but may also be used for
other related purposes, and shared with other statutory bodies/organisations to enable them to fulfil their statutory obligations.

We will not disclose any financial details you provide to us. Once your payment has been processed all financial details are securely destroyed.

For more information on how we use your information, and your rights to access information we hold on you, please see our full privacy policy available on our website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency

3 CERTIFICATE APPLIED FOR

ERTIFICATE APPLIED FOR
Please tick (✓) the capacity / limitations for which you are applying. Only tick ONE box.

4 SEA SERVICE
ERVICE
All sea service submitted on page 2 of the application form must be supported by a Discharge Book OR Certificates of Discharge AND Sea Service Testimonials which
include watchkeeping evidence. A pro forma for the Sea Service Testimonial can be found in MSN 1856. Acceptable testimonials must be signed, stamped and dated by
the Master OR other responsible company representative. There is a

Below is the required sea service for the different MCA approved routes:

Officer of the Watch:

• Examination: 36 months with 6 months bridge watchkeeping

• Foundation Degree: 12 months with 6 months bridge watchkeeping
• HNC/HND (With an MNTB Training Record Book) : 12 months with 6 months bridge watchkeeping
• AMET: 15 months with 6 months bridge watchkeeping
• If you are following an MCA approved overseas collaborative programme (so called one plus one schemes) you should consult with the UK parent college as
agreements will be made with the MCA on a programme by programme basis.

Chief Mate: 12 months as a Deck Officer since obtaining your OOW CoC.

For upgrades to Chief Mate <3000 GT unlimited area: 6 months watchkeeping sea service. This will include an oral examination (£201). For all other upgrades
please refer to the diagram on page 4 of MSN 1856.

Master: 36 months as Deck Officer since qualifying as an OOW or 12 months whilst holding a Chief Mate CoC and sailing as Chief Mate.

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For upgrades to Master <3000GT unlimited area: at least 12 months serving as Chief Mate or 36 months as Deck Officer since qualifying for an OOW unlimited. For all
other upgrades please refer to MSN 1856. This does not require an oral examination (£58).

5 CHECKLISTS
Before a Notice of Eligibility can be issued ALL the documents in this section MUST be provided with this application. Please ensure you tick (✓) each box to indicate
that you have enclosed the documents. If you are applying to upgrade or add an endorsement to your Certificate of Competency (CoC) you must hold the applicable
MCA-issued Certificate of Competency prior to making your application. The required CoCs are listed in MSN 1856. Non UK CoC holders will need to convert their CoC
to a UK CoC as per section 14 of MSN 1856.

With the exception of passports, as described below, the supporting documents must be original. Any candidate failing to submit all the required documents may have
their application returned without being processed.

Passport

Please do not send your original passport. Applicants for a UK Certificate of Competency (CoC) should submit a photocopy of their passport attested by:

• A Notary Public (UK or Foreign)

• MCA approved Nautical Colleges
• Your Maritime Administration

The copy should be stamped, signed and sighted as an original copy. Copies must be clear and to scale. Your original passport and visa (if required) will be
checked against your Notice of Eligibility at the oral examination stage.

Photographs

Your photographs must be taken full face without a hat and must be passport approved photographs, measuring a maximum of 50mm x 40mm, in colour. The back of
one photograph must include your name in BLOCK LETTERS and the signature of a Doctor, Bank Officer, Established Civil Servant, School Teacher or someone of
similar standing. They should also write on the back of the photograph “I certify that this is a true likeness of Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Dr etc……..” and add their signature. They
must also provide their details at Section 6. A member of your family is NOT allowed to counter sign your photograph. The back of the other photograph must include
your name in BLOCK LETTERS and your date of birth.

Medical Fitness Certificates

All candidates for any CoC must provide a valid medical fitness certificate, either

• The UK medical fitness certificate, currently known as an ENG 1, issued by an MCA approved medical practitioner, or

• A certificate issued by the Administration of any country whose medical fitness certificate is recognised as equivalent to the UK ENG 1

Medical Fitness Certificates must be valid at the time of issue of the CoC.

Further Evidence of Training required before your CoC can be issued

The following documentary evidence will need to be provided before your CoC can be issued, however it is not required for the issue of your NOE.

OOW:

All:

(1) UK Signals Certificate – issued within the last 3 years

(2) NARAS/NAEST Operational
(3) STCW - Advanced Fire Fighting
(4) STCW - Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (CPSC & RB)
(5) STCW - Medical First Aid
(6) Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
(7) HELM Operational
(8) GMDSS GOC (Book)

Foundation Degree:

(1) Course Completion Certificate/ Letter

All other routes:

(1) SQA Safety Paper results

(2) HNC Course Completion letter

Chief Mate Unlimited:

(1) GMDSS GOC (Book)

(2) UK NARAS/ NAEST (Management)
(3) Medical Care Certificate or Proficiency in Medical Care (less than 5 years old)
(4) HELM Management

Chief Mate Unlimited, less than 3000 GT unlimited area:

(1) GMDSS GOC (Book)

(2) NARAS Management
(3) HELM Management

Master Unlimited:

(1) GMDSS GOC (Book)

(2) Medical Care Certificate (less than 5 years old)
(3) NARAS/NAEST (Management) and evidence of MCA approved NARAS/ NAEST (operational) or ECDIS training completed after 01 January 2005.
(4) HELM Management

Upgrade to Master less than 3000gt unlimited area, from Chief Mate Unlimited:

(1) GMDSS GOC (Book)

7
(2) Medical Care Certificate (less than 5 years old)
(3) NARAS/ NAEST (Management) and evidence of MCA approved NARAS/ NAEST (operational) or ECDIS training completed after 01 January 2005.
(4) HELM Management

The documents will be requested on your NOE and it is essential that you submit these with your NOE pass. Failure to do so will result in the delay of the issue of your
full CoC.

HELM: STCW Convention and Code, 1978 as amended 2010 brings in new requirements for leadership and management training. Although the UK has identified that
these requirements are broadly met in the current MNTB approved officer training programmes for the operational level, specific training programmes in Human Element
Leadership and Management (HELM) have been developed at both the operational level (to be used for non-MNTB officer cadet training programmes) and at the
management level. For further information please refer to MSN 1856 (section 10.4, page 12) which is available on our website: Go to www.gov.uk and search MSN
1856.

6 DECLARATION
ECLARATION
Please read the declaration. Once you are sure that the information you have given is, to the best of your knowledge, true and complete, and that the documents
submitted are genuine, given and signed by the persons whose names appear on them, you should sign the declaration with your usual signature, including the date.
Please ensure your signature is inside the box as this will be transferred to your CoC.

7 COUNTER SIGNATURE
SIGNATURE
You should obtain a counter signature from a responsible person who is NOT related to you and has known you for at least 2 years. They should enter their details in this
section. This person must endorse the rear of one of your passport style photographs "I confirm that this is a true current likeness of [your name] and their usual
signature and date. See also note 4 on photographs.

8 PAYMENT
YMENT
You must enclose the correct fee with your application. The published fee includes worldwide postage Please tick (✓) the appropriate box to indicate your chosen method
of payment. Payment must be made in pounds sterling (£). Payment by cheque, banker’s draft or postal orders should be made payable to "The Maritime and
Coastguard Agency" and crossed "account payee" and "not negotiable". For payment by Maestro, Visa, Access/MasterCard or Delta, ensure you enter the card details in
the spaces provided. Please sign to confirm the amount and chosen method of payment.

9 APPLICATION TRACKING
APPLICATION
If you have provided an email address you will receive confirmation of receipt. We will then email you if we require any further evidence or if your application is
incomplete. Once we have processed your application we will dispatch your documents by courier. The courier company will email you confirmation of dispatch allowing
you to track and trace your package.
TRACKING
NOW RETURN YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION - PLEASE SEND TO:
6

Seafarer Training and Certification Branch Completed forms must not be emailed to
Maritime and Coastguard Agency the MCA – Please post them with the
Spring Place required documents.
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
UK.
Tel +44 (0)20381 72000
e-mail: [email protected]

WE DO NOT OFFER A COUNTER SERVICE

YOU SHOULD ALLOW 28 DAYS FOR US TO PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION, PLUS POSTAGE TIME.
AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION WILL DELAY THE ISSUE OF YOUR NOE

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You must use this table if you are using yacht service. For definitions please refer to MSN 1858. For details of how yacht sea service is calculated towards a Merchant
Navy CoC please refer to Annex F of MSN 1856 (page 30).

VESSEL AND VOYAGE DETAILS DATES DURATION SEA SERVICE DURATION (DAYS)

Length*/Type**/ Actual
Standby Yard Watch-
Vessel Name Flag GT Voyage*** Rank/Capacity From To Months Days Sea
Service Service keeping
Service

Totals

* Length - Load line length

** Type - Type of yacht (motor/sail)
*** Voyage - You should give the area in which the ship traded using the following codes U = Unlimited, NC = Near Coastal Area

9
 New Sea Time Requirements for
Full Requirements in MSN 1856
Unlimited Route
Master, unlimited, II/2:
*18 months Oral Exam A
seagoing service (MSN 1856, refer to section 3.4,
page 6)

No

Have you 12 months *24 months

sailed as Chief Mate Yes
seagoing service seagoing service
for 12 months?

Have you
Yes sailed as Chief Mate No
for 12 months
*This period may be reduced if you have
This must be a minimum completed more than 12 months as an OOW
of 12 months sailing as a prior to obtaining a Chief Mate s CoC. You
Chief Mate – otherwise need to complete a total of 36 months from
you must complete the OOW. So for example:
full sea time requirement.
Chief Mate unlimited II/2: Chief Mate unlimited II/2: If you completed 22 months as an OOW Chief Mate unlimited II/2:
applicable applicable prior to qualifying as a Chief Mate, you must applicable
education and training education and training now complete a further 14 months as a Deck education and training
Oral Exam B Oral Exam B Officer to obtain a Master s CoC: Oral Exam B
(MSN 1856 Section 3.3 page (MSN 1856 Section 3.3 page (MSN 1856 Section 3.3 page
5) 5) 22 + 14 = 36. 5)

You should submit all your sea service

since obtaining an OOW CoC.

18 months 12 months 36 months

seagoing service seagoing service seagoing service

OOW Unlimited, II/1:

applicable education and training, 12 months seagoing service or 36 months for non-approved route,
Came though old route (MGN 92)
Oral Exam C
(MSN 1856 refer to section 3.2, page 4)

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