Certificate of Equivalent Competency Application Information

In accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), unless the officers onboard a UK registered vessel hold a UK Certificate of Competency (CoC) they require a Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) issued by the MCA. CECs are available to officers who hold a CoC issued in accordance with the STCW '95 amendment from a country whose standards of competency and training are considered to be equivalent to those of the UK (see table below).

Subject to CECs, there are no nationality restrictions associated with officers or crew sailing on UK vessels except that in the case of strategic ships the Master must be a British, British Commonwealth, NATO or EU national, or a national of a state which is party to the EEA Agreement. “Strategic” vessels are defined as fishing vessels over 24 metres in length, Class 1 passenger ships of 500gt or more certified to carry more than 300 passengers, ro-ros and product tankers.

Before making an application, please make sure you have read and are familiar with the following documents:

MGN 221 Training and Certification Guidance - Part 19 Certificates of Equivalent Competency
MGN 220 Training and Certification Guidance - Part 20 Certificates of Equivalent Competency for Fishing Vessels
MIN 340 Certificates of Equivalent Competency - Amendment of Procedures

Step by Step Guide to the Application Process:

Click here if you are applying through a company

Click here if you are applying as an individual

Click here if you are applying for a Fishing CEC

The following table is a list of countries whose CoCs and GMDSS certificates that are accepted by the MCA. Please refer to this table before making your application.

Certificates
issuing
administration

GMDSS
Accepted?

Important Notes
Australia Yes We accept certificates issued from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). State issued certificates are not accepted

Evidence of English is not required.
Belgium Yes  
Bulgaria Yes  
Canada Yes Evidence of English is not required.
China Yes
Croatia Yes Please submit evidence of sea service if you are an engineer on a steam ship.
Czech Republic Yes  
Denmark Yes  
Estonia Yes
Faroe Islands No  
Finland Yes  
France Yes  
Germany Yes  
Greece Yes
Hong Kong No Evidence of English is not required
Hungary Yes Motorships Only
Iceland Yes
India Yes Evidence of English is not required.
Iran No Evidence of English is not required.
Ireland Yes Evidence of English is not required.
Italy Yes
Jamaica Yes Evidence of English is not required.
Korea, Republic of No
Latvia Yes
Lithuania Yes
Malaysia Yes Evidence of English is not required.
Malta Yes Evidence of English is not required.
Mynamar No Evidence of English is not required.
Netherlands Yes
New Zealand Yes Evidence of English is not required.
Norway Yes
Pakistan No Evidence of English is not required.
Philippines Yes
Poland Yes If you require a dangerous cargo endorsement, please submit your Polish tanker permission page.
Portugal Yes
Romania Yes Please submit evidence of sea service if you are an engineer on a steam ship.
Russia Yes
Serbia &
Montenagro 		No
Singapore Yes Evidence of English is not required.
Slovenia Yes
South Africa Yes Evidence of English is not required.

Please submit evidence of sea service if you are an engineer on a steam ship.
Spain Yes
Sri Lanka No Evidence of English is not required.
Sweden Yes
Ukraine Yes
USA No Holders of USCG certification with limitations may be required to sit an oral examination of competency. Please contact the CEC team for further details.

Where GMDSS GOC is not acceptable, candidates holding a GOC will be accepted as equivalent to ROC and their CECs will be marked accordingly. To be in charge of the vessel's radio station, the operator must hold a GOC. To keep a radio watch the operator must hold a minimum of a ROC.