UK endorsements
Governing: STCW regulation I/10; MSN 1867 (M) Amendment 1 (December 2021); UK Ship Register FSE guidance. Builds on: Module 1.
The principle
Under STCW regulation I/10, a flag state may accept a certificate issued by another Party, but only by endorsing it to show recognition. The UK calls this endorsement a Flag State Endorsement (FSE); MSN 1867 Amendment 1 says it is also known as a Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) and uses the terms interchangeably.
The UK Ship Register is clear: all seafarers serving on a UK-flagged vessel with a non-UK CoC need a valid UK FSE. FSEs are issued like for like: a chief mate's CoC gets a chief mate's FSE.
Requirements
| Requirement | Detail (MSN 1867 A1) |
|---|---|
| CoC | STCW-compliant, from an administration the UK recognises (list on gov.uk) |
| English | Accepted English test, unless English is your first language or you were taught and examined in English for your CoC |
| UK law (UKLAP) | Masters must pass UKLAP 1; chief mates, chief engineers and second engineers need Grade 2 knowledge, assessed and documented by the company |
| Medical | UK ENG1 or equivalent recognised by the issuing country |
| GMDSS | Deck officers send an attested copy to receive an Authority to Operate (ATO) |
UKLAP 1 is an online, proctored computer-based exam, available around the clock according to the UK Ship Register.
Applying
Use MSF 4203 with attested copies of the CoC (all pages), passport or discharge book, English test result, photos and fee. The UK Ship Register aims to issue within 28 days of receipt.
Working while you wait
| Document | Effect |
|---|---|
| CRA (Confirmation of Receipt of Application), MSF 4359 | Serve on a UK ship for up to 3 months from applying |
| ECRA (Emergency CRA), issued outside normal hours | Up to 1 month |
| Temporary FSE for Masters applying via a company | Up to 6 months, UKLAP 1 to be passed within that time |
CAUTION — CRA is not an FSE A CRA covers the gap. If the FSE is not issued within 3 months, the seafarer cannot continue to serve on the strength of the CRA.
Yacht FSEs
Annex A of MSN 1867 covers yacht certificates. Yacht FSEs are issued for vessels up to 3000 GT and are limited to yacht service. Yacht CoCs recognised in the notice include those of France, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Italy, issued under STCW. Check the current gov.uk list; recognition agreements change.
Revalidating an FSE
Section 4.3: submit MSF 4203, an attested copy of the CoC (all pages), the fee and the original FSE. You do not need another English test. In practice the underlying CoC must be valid; revalidate your national CoC first, then the FSE.
TIP — For the captain Keep an FSE tracker for every officer with a foreign CoC: CoC expiry, FSE expiry, UKLAP status, CRA dates. The FSE is often forgotten until a flag inspection.