MCA certificate of competency for workboats over 24m
The MCA has acknowledged the increasing number of workboats over 24m in load line length by introducing STCW certificates of competency (CoCs) which allow deck and engineer officers to work on these vessels without having to hold full Merchant Navy unlimited certificates.
The MCA Master (Workboats Less Than 500GT) CoC was introduced in 2013 - details are contained in the M-Notice MGN 496. The Master 500GT CoC builds on the MCA Master 200GT (Code Vessels Less Than 200GT).
Candidates meeting the requirements will be issued with a STCW CoC limited to service in workboats of 500GT or less, with an unlimited area of operation. This will be based on the certification requirements for large yachts detailed in MSN 1858.
The following manning scales apply to workboats over 24m and less than 500GT.
| Area - miles from safehaven | Rank | Vessel - Less than 500GT |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 60nm | Master and chief mate | Master Workboats < 500GT and Coastal Skipper |
| Up to 150nm | Master and chief mate | Master Workboats <500GT |
| Over 150nm | Master, chief mate and OOW | Master Workboats <500T, Master Code Vessel less than 200GT and Yachtmaster Offshore |
Where appropriate, dual deck and assistant engineer roles may be considered, provided that the officer is suitably qualified in both disciplines and that the person holding the dual role is a person other than a Master.
Engineering qualifications for workboats over 24m
The small vessel engineering qualification is a combined certification structure for engineer officers wanting to work on tugs, large workboats, standby, seismic survey, oceanographic research vessels government patrol vessels, fishing vessels, or commercial yachts.
The route for certification is structured to provide a progressive career path for those in the industry to achieve small vessel engineer qualifications and will provide three certification levels:
- Second Engineer Less than 9,000 kW, Less than 3000 GT,
- Chief Engineer Less than 3,000 kW, less than 500 GT/ Second Engineer less than 9,000 kW, less than 3,000 GT, and
- Chief Engineer Less than 9,000 kW, Less than 3,000 GT.
| CoC | Area limitation | Power limitation and tonnage limitation | Vessel limitation | STCW Convention regulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second engineer | Unlimited | Less than 9,000kW and less than 3,000GT | Fishing vessels, yachts, tugs, workboats, seismic survey, oceanographic research vessels and government patrol vessels | III/2 |
| Chief engineer | Unlimited | Chief Engineer less than 3,000kW and less than 500GT | Fishing vessels, yachts, tugs, large workboats, standby, seismic survey, oceanographic research vessels and government patrol vessels | III/3 |
| Chief engineer | Unlimited | Second engineer less than 9,000kW and less than 3,000GT | Fishing vessels, yachts, tugs, large workboats, standby, seismic survey, oceanographic research vessels and government control vessels | III/2 |
| Chief engineer | Unlimited | Less than 9,000kW and less than 3,000GT | Fishing vessels, yachts, tugs, large workboats, standby, seismic survey, oceanographic research vessels and government patrol vessels | III/2 |
