How to apply for Able Seafarer, Rating certificates and EDH requirements

Imported from official source

April 30, 2014 23:00

STCW watch rating certificates are the only qualification you need to work as a watch rating on board a vessel.

There are 2 types of watch rating certificates:

navigational watch rating certificate STCW II/4

engine room watch rating certificate STCW III/4

To qualify for your certificate you must:

have completed at least 6 months approved sea service in the deck department or engineer room - or 2 months sea service if you’ve completed a MCA approved special college based training programme

have completed the basic safety training

have been assessed as meeting the specified STCW requirements and performance standards

hold a valid UK ENG1 or recognised non UK equivalent medical fitness certificate

Many UK-flagged shipping companies issue watch rating certificates on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

If you’re a rating serving with a company which isn’t approved by us to issue this certificate, you can apply directly to the MCA.

Complete application form MSF 4371 below.

MSF 4371 Application for a MCA issued watch rating certificate, navigational or engine room

You’ll need to submit the following items with your application form:

certified copy of passport (and visa if applicable)

discharge book or certificates of discharge (original copies) or yacht service record book

sea service testimonials (original copies)

valid medical fitness certificate ENG1 or recognised non UK equivalent

pay the fee as per the payment section of the application form

Yacht rating certificates will allow you to work on yachts and sail training vessels of less than 3000GT.

To qualify for your certificate you must:

have completed the basic safety training

have completed at least 6 months onboard Yacht Service, including 2 months’ actual seagoing service or 2 months actual seagoing service if you’ve completed a MCA-accepted yacht training programme

This is an extract. The publication continues at the source.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence

Read the original at the source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-navigationalengine-room-ratings-certificate

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Organization: Maritime and Coastguard Agency — imported from official source
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency.atom ATOM
Imported: November 01, 2026 10:00
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Identity: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-navigationalengine-room-ratings-certificate#2026-...