UK issues new amended codes of practice for authorisation of certifying authorities

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency amended Marine Information Note (MIN) 538 concerning codes of practice – authorisation of certifying authorities.

The MIN 538 Amendment 6 (M) was published on 28 March 2024.

Summary

1.1 The purpose of this MIN is to provide contact details of MCA authorised Certifying Authorities.

Introduction/background

2.1 Certifying Authorities undertake survey and certification work under the Small Commercial Vessel Codes of Practice or MGN 280 (M)[2]. The Codes of Practice are as follows:

• The Safety of Small Commercial Sailing Vessels – A Code of Practice (Blue Code)
• The Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels – A Code of Practice (Yellow Code)
• The Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure operating from a Nominated Departure Point (NDP) (Red Code)
• The Police Boat Common Code (PBC3) + Codes A, B, C, D 1
• MGN 280 (M) - Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats – Alternative Construction Standards (available as an alternative standard to the Small Commercial Vessel Codes of Practice) 2
• The Workboat Code Edition 3 The Safety of Small Workboats and Pilot Boats – A Code of Practice For existing vessels, transitional arrangements are set out in Workboat Code Edition 3.

1.The Police Codes are an "equivalent" code but may ONLY be used for Police Craft.

2.From 13 December 2023, the Alternative Construction Standards published in the Annex to MGN 280(M) may only be used for vessels operating for sport or pleasure.

Responsibilities

3.1 Certifying Authorities are authorised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to examine and certificate small commercial vessels in accordance with the applicable requirements.

3.2 A Certifying Authority is responsible for each certificate it issues, and the relationship between the Certifying Authority and a vessel owner / managing agent is direct. This does not supersede the Code requirement that an owner is responsible for ensuring that their vessel complies with the requirements applicable to that vessel.

3.3 It is the responsibility of the owner / managing agent to ensure that a vessel is properly maintained, examined and manned in accordance with the relevant Code.

3.4 The Certifying Authorities listed under section 4 are authorised as Inspectors of Marks for the purpose of verifying Carving and Marking Notes on UK ships of less than 24 metres in length.

3.5 The Certifying Authorities listed under section 4 are also authorised to undertake inspections in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention on Coded vessels of less than 24 metres in length. However, Certifying Authorities may only undertake an MLC inspection on Small Commercial Vessels for which they currently provide survey and certifications services.

List of Certifying Authorities

4.1 The following is a list of the head offices of Certifying Authorities authorised through formal agreement to conduct survey and certification of all types of small commercial vessels against the standards of the Small Commercial Vessel Codes or MGN 280 (M):

• Bureau Veritas
  Suite 1 & 2, Keel House
  Tyne Dock
  South Shields
  Tyne and Wear
  NE34 9PY
  Tel: 0191 427 8170
  Fax: 0191 427 8171
  Email: gbr_clo@uk.bureauveritas.com
• Burness Corlett Three Quays International Limited
  Office 5 Horton Park
  Berwick Hill Road
  Newcastle Upon Tyne
  NE13 6BU
  Tel: +44 (0) 333 202 7154
  Fax: +44 (0) 333 202 7156
  Email: smallshipsca@bctq.com
• DNV - Maritime
  24 Steel House
  4300 Parkway
  Solent Business Park
  Whiteley
  Hampshire
  PO15 7FP
  Tel: 023 80 74 5940
  Email: uk.flag.contact@dnv.com
• International Institute of Marine Surveying
  Murrills House
  48 East Street
  Portchester
  PO16 9XS
  Tel: 023 92 38 5223
  Email: ca@iims.org.uk
• Lloyd’s Register EMEA
  One Temple Quay
  Temple Back East
  Bristol
  BS1 6DZ
  Tel: 0117 3190110
  Email: MCA.CodesofPractice@lr.org
• MECAL Ltd
  Office Suite 4
  Endeavour House
  Oceansgate
  Devonport
  Plymouth
  PL1 4RW
  Tel: 01752 251211
  Email: admin@mecal.co.uk
• Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  Domestic Survey Operations
  Bay 2/20 Spring Place
  105 Commercial Road
  Southampton
  SO15 1EG
  Tel: 020 381 72190 / 72456
  Email: Domestic.Fleet@mcga.gov.uk
• Royal Yachting Association
  RYA House
  Ensign Way
  Hamble
  Southampton
  SO31 4YA
  Tel: 023 8060 4100
  Email: scvcert@rya.org.uk
• RINA Services S.p.A.
  North Wing, 1st Floor
  2 Charlotte Place
  Southampton
  SO14 0TB
  United Kingdom
  Tel: 023 80 33 2271
  Email: uk.marine@rina.org
• Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors
  Ground Floor Unit 5, Prospect House
  7 Ocean Way
  Southampton
  SO14 3TJ
  Tel: 023 80 016494
  Email: sec@scmshq.org
• Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association
  The Glass Works
  3b Penns Road
  Petersfield
  Hampshire
  GU32 2EW
  Tel: 01730 710425
  Email: ca@ybdsa.co.uk

Applications to act as a Certifying Authority

5.1 Organisations wishing to act as a Certifying Authority should make a formal request in writing to the address at the bottom of this notice. Upon receiving a request, the criteria for acting as a Certifying Authority will be provided by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

5.2 With any new applications, MCA are required to assess whether the additional audit burden through further appointments or delegations would be in the public interest as required under the treasury rules. The MCA reserves the right to decline applications not meeting the above criteria. This is in accordance with the principles of the HM Treasury paper ‘Managing Public Money’.

All regulations can be found at legislation.gov.uk

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

Codes of Practice – Authorisation of Certifying Authorities