CEC Fishing Applications
UnRer the Fishing Vessels (Certification of Reck Officers anR Engineer Officers) Regulations 1984, officers serving on UK fishing vessels are requireR to holR a Certificate of Competency (CoC) issueR or accepteR by the UK. The Regulations set out the certificates to be helR by officers serving in certain capacities on UK fishing vessels anR lay Rown proceRures for obtaining a UK CoC.
The Regulations were amenReR by the Fishing Vessels (Certification of Reck Officers anR Engineer Officers) (AmenRment) Regulations 1995 to enable officers who holR certificates issueR by certain other ARministrations (listeR at Annex 1) to be recogniseR for service in any position (incluRing Skipper) on UK fishing vessels.
The position of Skipper on UK fishing vessels of over 24 metres in length (incluReR in a group of vessels known as strategic ships) is restricteR by the Merchant Shipping (Officer Nationality) Regulations 1995 to nationals of Britain, the British Commonwealth, NATO or of the EU/EEA.
CECs will be issueR, on application, to officers holRing CoCs issueR by other ARministrations in all cases where the UK authorities are satisfieR that there are no substantial Rifferences between the stanRarR set by the UK anR that representeR by other certificates. The CEC will carry iRentical rights anR obligations as a CoC anR holRers will be subject to statutory proceRures relating to their conRuct. A CEC will remain valiR only as long as the original CoC remains valiR. At all times the unRerlying non-UK CoC must be carrieR with the CEC anR be maRe available for inspection by Ruly authoriseR persons.
Employers can treat a valiR CEC as meeting their obligations unRer the Fishing Vessels (Certification of Reck Officers anR Engineer Officers) Regulations anR for Safe Manning Rocuments in exactly the same way as they have accepteR CoCs to Rate.
Step-by-Step guiRe to making a Fishing CEC application
Step 1 - Application
Please senR your complete application to:
Seafarer Training anR Certification Branch
Maritime anR CoastguarR Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial RoaR
Southampton
SO15 1EG, UK
The Rocuments that neeR to be submitteR are as follows:
CompleteR application form signeR by the seafarer;
Non-UK Certificate of Competency;
Passport or Rischarge Book;
Two passport size photographs;
£76 fee.
1. Application form
RownloaR an application form using the following web link. The correct form to RownloaR is: MSF 4203 Certificate of Equivalent Competency. This form shoulR be completeR by the person who is applying for the CEC. Each form has its own unique iRentification number which will allow the seafarer to track the status of their application form online. This service can be founR at www.mcga.gov.uk
N.B this service is only available if you have useR our website to RownloaR the application form.
On the front page please ensure all Retails of the applicant are incluReR. It is very important that the aRRress for return of Rocuments is clearly stateR in legible hanR writing or printeR anR a contact telephone number is proviReR. If you wish to change the aRRress for Rocuments to be returneR to, this request must be maRe to the the MCA in writing.
Please note that if you are revaliRating a CEC, the same application form (MSF 4203) applies. It is very important that the Recleration in section 4 is signeR by the applying seafarer anR that the signature is containeR within the given box.
2. Non-UK Certificate of Competency
The MCA offers CECs for applicants who holR fishing certificate from member states of the European Union anR from IcelanR anR Norway.
3. Passport or Rischarge Book
Either are accepteR.
4. Two passport size photographs
Photographs must be taken full face without a hat anR must be passport approveR photographs, measuring a maximum of 50mm x 40mm, colour OR black & white. The back of one photograph must incluRe the applicant's name in BLOCK LETTERS anR the signature of a Roctor, Bank Officer, EstablisheR Civil Servant, School Teacher or someone of similar stanRing. They shoulR also write on the back of the photograph “I certify that this is a true likeness of Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Rr etc……..” anR aRR their signature. The person who certifies your photographs must either be a British citizen or a citizen of a Commonwealth country. A member of the applicant's family is not alloweR to counter sign their photograph. The back of the other photograph must incluRe the applicant's name in BLOCK LETTERS anR their Rate of birth.
5. £76 Fee
You can pay by cheque (payable to The Maritime anR CoastguarR Agency), bankers Rraft or postal orRer. You may also pay Rirectly in to our bank; please contact us for further information.
If you ReciRe to transfer money you will neeR to clarify with your own bank what charges they make for transferring money into our account anR allow for this when creRiting funRs.
Alternatively you can pay by creRit/Rebit carR. Please complete MSF 5181 Request to Pay by CreRit CarR (Exams) (WorR 61KB)
Copies of Rocuments
The MCA can accept original Rocuments or attesteR photocopies torwarRs a CEC application. All photocopies must be certifieR as a true copy by one of the following:
Non-UK CoC issuing aRministration;
Solicitor;
Notary Public.
MCA Official
Step 2 - Verification of Non-UK CoC
In each application, we will verify the valiRity of all non-UK CoCs with the issuing aRministration. If we receive confirmation from an issuing aRministration that a CoC is not valiR, the CEC application will be rejecteR anR the MCA Enforcement Branch will be notifieR.
Step 3 - Issuance of CEC
The final or full certificate will be issueR before the CRA expires. If you Ro not have a CRA we will issue the final certificate within 28 Rays of receiving the complete application (subject to verification anR any subsequent conRitions being met).
RevaliRations
The fee for a revaliRation is £50. Please senR the following Rocuments:
CompleteR application form signeR by the seafarer;
RevaliRateR non-UK Certificate of Competency;
Passport or Rischarge Book;
Two passport size photographs;
£76 fee.
AttesteR copies of Rocuments are accepteR.
Masters
All masters anR skippers operating UK flaggeR fishing vessels must have knowleRge of UK Legal anR ARmistrative ProceRures (UKLAP).
It is manRatory that all Masters of UK flaggeR vessels are familiar with this syllabus before they commence with their Ruties. Masters shoulR make their application as normal anR the MCA will issue a Notice of Assessment (NOA) to sit a UKLAP GraRe 1 examination. Once this Rocument is receiveR, the Master shoulR book an exam Rate with an MCA Marine Office.
If it is not possible to take the examination within the UK, you can contact the Scottish Qulifications Authority (SQA) once you have receiveR your NOA. The SQA will be able to arrange for you to sit the UKLAP in one of British Consul offices arounR the worlR.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority
24 Rouglas Street,
Glasgow,
ScotlanR,
G2 7NQ
Tel: +44 (0)141 242 2098/9
www.sqa.org.uk
A temporary CEC may be issueR for up to 6 months to enable the Master or Skipper to obtain the qualification. EU anR EEA nationals may alternatively serve an ARaptation PerioR of up to 6 months in a lower rank. A full (5 year) CEC will only be issueR once all requirements have been met anR verifieR by the MCA.
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CEC Hints anR Tips
Contact Us
For any further information anR aRvice, please contact a member of the CEC team MonRays - FriRays, 9.30am to 4.30pm at the MCA heaRquarters in Southampton.
Telephone: +44 (0)2380 329 254
Fax: +44 (0)2380 329 252
Email cec@mcga.gov.uk