Revalidating A MCA Master 200

[Will75]

Ok, now I've got the Master 200, my mind now turns to revalidation in 5 years time! What is the form of the proof of sea service that the MCA will want to see. Discharge book, PYA book, my own records? It seems a bit vague at this level...at 500gt level you obviously a discharge book is the right thing but most of my time is spent jumping from one workboat to another rather than being formally signed on to a ship for several months at a time........any ideas?

[tonto]

Originally Posted by Will75

Ok, now I've got the Master 200, my mind now turns to revalidation in 5 years time! What is the form of the proof of sea service that the MCA will want to see. Discharge book, PYA book, my own records? It seems a bit vague at this level...at 500gt level you obviously a discharge book is the right thing but most of my time is spent jumping from one workboat to another rather than being formally signed on to a ship for several months at a time........any ideas?

There is an MGN about revalidation, but it mostly deals with larger commercial vessels.

Discharge book entries will be required, along with bridge watchkeeping certificates if you are looking to upgrade. As I work on foriegn flagged vessels I also need a discharge certificate as well.
You will need to show 6 months sea time in the preceding 5 years, on larger vessels, but some types of vessel count as 1/2 time, so you will need longer.

Our mooring Masters/Pilots revalidate their licences using a combination of signing onto a tug for a month at a time (even if they are not living on board) and if you can do the same with a support vessel, it would help. They also get a letter from the employer stating that they are involved with mooring and piloting of vessels, how many/names of different vessels that they has berthed and some dates.

With your particular circumstances, I would give the MCA, seafarer standards branch a ring, or an email to clarify what you need.

Good luck!

Gary

[hobbit555]

Just revalidating mine as we speak all MCA asked for was a letter from company detailing type if work done in the last 5 years which had to be a total of 12 months in the last 5 years.

[Will75]

Thanks for the advice chaps...I have applied for a discharge book today and emailed the query to the MCA so will report back when I hear.

[eglin500]

I have a PYA logbook and I have been very lazy at keeping records or handing it to previous employers, also you need to get a stamp next to each entry. you also have to get testimonials filled out and send logbook and testimonials all the way to france, a lot of messing around. Check this link out if you are working towards OOW (YACHTS) http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/training_r...on_22_04-2.pdf

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CANDIDATES
This TRAINING RECORD BOOK is part of the Qualification Requirements for Officer of the
Watch (Yachts) Certification – OOW(Y). When fully completed, it must be presented to the
Examiner at the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) when you attend to sit your oral
examination.

[tonto]

Just had a look at MGN (9), which deals with revalidation, and I am afraid it does not look so promising, unless you have heard different from the MCA.

Looks like you need to be signed on to an ocean going vessel over 24 M in length for 12 months in the preceding 5 years to revalidate.

Or you can sail as OOW for 3 months as supernumary on a vessel, during which time you will need to update your professional knowledge.

If you are an ocean going vessel, then either of the above will get you a revalidation of your radio licence.

Failing all of the above it looks like back to college to do a revalidation course (which might be the easiest option, depanding on your circumstances), however I do not know how long, or the cost of the course is.

It also lists a number of occupations which are exempt from the sea time qualifications, but I do not know if you would fall under any of those.

There is a final route, and that would be to apply to the MCA citing your occupation as an accepted one, and they may accept this, and revalidate your licence on that basis.

Good luck and hope you get a positive response from them!

Gary

[Alexander]

As you can read in MGN 1802 the sea time requirement to revalitate a master 200 (Code vessel) is only six month.

[hobbit555]

I also think that mgn 9 was written before the master 200t was even a thought!!!
It's aimed at 500t + tickets

[tonto]

I stand suitably admonished!

Sorry for the confusion.

[Skippy John]

As someone who has been involved in the revalidation procedures for the MCA CoC's for many years may I tell you all that the revalidation process is shown in MSN 1802. DO NOT USE MGN9 as this is for Merchant Navy Deck Officer CoC's and was written before the M<200gt was even thought about.
To revalidate you should produce;

• completed MCA CoC Revalidation Form; the link to MCA form is, https://afrmmcanet.mcga.gov.uk/forms...01_REV0712.pdf
• ENG1
• GMDSS ROC or GOC CoC (also requires revalidation every 5 years with similar evidence)
• two forms of documentation showing the service and these can be a discharge book or Certificate of Discharge and Testimonials for each vessel. what we have been able to agree with the authorities is that a letter from the Company signed and stamped by a senior person, Marine Super/Owner etc will be accepted as one form of evidence.

For those who move into a management role and who no longer drive boats you may still be able to revalidate your CoC through a Company declaration stating what you do. The MCA may then consider this is suitable alternative employment.

Incidentally, the MCA will require the two forms of evidence (testimonial + cert of discharge/discharge book) if you want ot progress to the OOW (Yacht) <3000gt whioch is the nest level of CoC. the best bet is to ensure that you collect these at least when you leave a company but better at the end of each contract (not trip or voyage) on a vessel.

Hope this helps clarify for you all

[Will75]

Thanks for your replies chaps.

John, can you answer a couple of specific questions for me:

1. I now have a discharge book, it arrived today. It says in the front that "the holder must not make any entry or alteration in this discharge book etc etc" If this is the case, then how does it get completed if for instance I am working as Master on a delivery trip for instance? Is it the case that if the Mate also has a MCA Masters then he can fill in my discharge book and I can fill in his?

2. Can I only use the discharge book to record voyages on UK registered vessels or can it be used to record any passage on any vessel?

Thanks in advance.

Will

[tonto]

Originally Posted by Will75

Thanks for your replies chaps.

John, can you answer a couple of specific questions for me:

1. I now have a discharge book, it arrived today. It says in the front that "the holder must not make any entry or alteration in this discharge book etc etc" If this is the case, then how does it get completed if for instance I am working as Master on a delivery trip for instance? Is it the case that if the Mate also has a MCA Masters then he can fill in my discharge book and I can fill in his?

2. Can I only use the discharge book to record voyages on UK registered vessels or can it be used to record any passage on any vessel?

Thanks in advance.

Will

On larger vessels we do the following,

1, The joining Master will fill in and sign the outgoing Masters discharge book.

2, We use the discharge book to record voyages on any flag of vessel, however the MCA may want to see a certificate of discharge (also made out on board) to back up the discharge book entry. In some cases they may ask for the certificate of discharge to be endorsed by the consul of the country of the flag, although I have not had this so far, and worked on Bermuda, British, Liberian, and Bahamas flags. The discharge certificate blank is normally available from the flag state.

[Skippy John]

Tonto is correct but if there is a Management Company involved the MCA will also accept entries made/signed by them.

The Testimonial Form is included in MSN 1802 and is also required for the revalidation process. Again the MCA will accept the signature of Management Company, Owner or even the Mate or Chief Engineer so long as they hold a CoC.

Unfortunately we are dealing with a Government Department so everything has to be correct and there is little or no leeway. However what has happened over the years is that the MCA has allowed a number of variations that known to thos ewho deal with them. perhaps this why we have a Forum like this and also Specialist Training Providers who are able to advise people as to the correct/accpetable way of doing things.

[hobbit555]

Well that's my 200t revalidation application with the Mca. They emailed me to tell me. Will just have to see what happens

[Will75]

As a matter of interest, what did you send them as proof of seatime?

[hobbit555]

Letter from company directors as we don't do discharge books currently within company

[hobbit555]

All re validated now and legal for another 5 years. Plenty of time to find a shore based job now!!!

For those interested, as proof of sea time I had letter from company director and also some discharge book entries.
I think from now I am going to push the company to start issuing certificates of discharge or use discharge books

[Skippy John]

This thread has been really interesting to me. I deal with many candidates who are applying for MCA Oral Exam NoE or who wish to revalidate their MCA CoC. The process is so different than when applying to revalidate the RYA CoC's and the information required is, for some, quite mind boggling.

To try to make it easy I always tell people that for RYA it's all about sea miles and days on board but for MCA it's all about sea service (time at sea) and days on board. Unlike the RYA the MCA are NOT interested in miles at sea.

Many people come to me after working for some years on their RYA (CE) CoC, they have no Testimonials or Certificates of Discharge/Discharge Book but need to move into the MCA CoC system. The issue is then to try to get owners/opeartors to write out the Testimonial and Cert of Discharge. I've known for this for some candidates to take months which is really frustrating when there's a job waiting for you once you've passed the MCA CoC.

I would like to make a plea to all those who are following this thread to tell everyone they know who are working commercially on an RYA (CE) CoC to get the Testimonials/Certs of Discharge when they leave a company or change Owners. They need to keep the documents safe and then they can be used to move up to Master <200gt (or even the possibly up to the proposed new Master (WorkBoats) <500gt) and/or for revalidating any CoC that is held.

[Will75]

I've just written to the MCA to see if one of my maritime consultancy roles can be used towards re-validation as a shorebased activity along with a testimonial from our main customer for this work.

Will report back when they reply!