HOW TO APPLY FOR A NOE
- La Signora dei Mari
- Feb 27
- 4 min read
A NOE, Notice of Eligibility, is an application form that must be filled in order to be eligible for online examinations for the release of Certificates of Competence (CoC) for various categories.
The table below lists the different modules for each different certificate, but we will focus solely on the module related to obtaining the CoC Master 200gt/OOW 500gt Limited and Unlimited: MSF 4343 .
Quick Reference | Application Form (including link) | M-Notice Number (including link) |
Deck Officers | ||
Engineer Officers | ||
Fishing Deck | ||
Yacht Deck Officers | ||
Electro-technical Officers (ETOs) | ||
Tugs (Deck) | ||
Workboats (Deck) | ||
Small Vessel Engineers (including Fishing Eng.) |
MSF Form 4343 , “APPLICATION FOR AN ORAL EXAMINATION LEADING TO THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY (STCW) FOR Masters, Chief Mates and Deck Officers on Commercially and Privately Operated Yachts and Sail Training Vessels” can be downloaded here:
Once downloaded, it must be filled out following the instructions in the form itself and sent together with the originals of the other requested documents to:
UK Seafarer Services (Training & Certification),
Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road,
Southampton
SO15 1EG.
It is important to note that only first time applicants for a CoC at MCA will need to send the original documents by post. (It is recommended to use a secure and certified post system, since these are your originals, i.e. DHL, FEDEX, etc.).
For anyone who has previously obtained CoC certificates, please send the application form, along with any other required scanned documents to deck@mcga.gov.uk
Documents to be sent in original, together with the application form:
1. CoC Yachtmaster Offshore or Yachtmaster Ocean (in case you want to request an unlimited CoC)
2. Yachtmaster Offshore Shore based Certificate
3. Yachtmaster Ocean Shore based Certiticate (again for CoC Unlimited)
4. Personal Survival Techniques STCW A-VI/1-1 (after 1st January 2017 updated or issued < 5 years)
5. Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting STCW A-VI/1-2 (after 1st January 2017 updated or issued < 5 years)
6. Elementary First Aid STCW A-VI/1-3
7. Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities STCW A-VI/1-4
8. Valid Medical Fitness Certificate (ENG1)
9. Two UK approved passport photos, measuring 50mm x 40mm, in colour with a plain white background.
10. Copy of passport (there is no need to send the original passport, but a certified copy. The certification of the latter can be requested from the Municipality or from a Notary).
11. MCA approved HELM Operational Certificate. (This certificate is actually not mandatory to issue the NOE, but it is for the release of the final certificate, so I recommend you do it first if you can and send it with the other certificates, so you won't waste time later).
12. GMDSS General Operators Certificate (GOC for those who wish to apply for Master200gt Unlimited) or Restricted Operators Certificate (ROC for those who wish to apply for Master200gt within 150 from safe haven).
Important for compilation :
· The form must be filled out with a pen with black ink. For the signature I recommend using a thicker marker respecting the required measurements and without going out of the box. The signature will then be used to report it on your certificate that they will issue you.
· The form must be countersigned by a “responsible person” who is NOT a relative and who has known you for at least 2 years. This person must also sign and date the back of the passport-sized photographs, with the words “photographs “I confirm that this is a true current likeness of [your name]”.
Examples of recognized professions to identify the "responsible person":
accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of recognized company
bank or building society official
barrister
chairman or director of a limited company
chiropodist
commissioner of oaths
councillor, for example local or county
civil servant (permanent)
dentist
director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer with professional qualifications
financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent (full time) of a recognized company
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
licensee of a public house
local government officer
manager or personnel officer of a limited company
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy Officer
minister of a recognized religion (including Christian Science)
nurse (RGN or MRI)
armed services officer
optician
paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
pharmacist
photographer (professional)
police officer
Post Office official
president or secretary of a recognized organisation
Salvation Army officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher or lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent (qualified)
valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers.
We recommend reading for more information:
MIN 690, Guidance on the MCA Oral Examination Booking, the Issue of Notices of Eligibility (NOEs) and the Online Oral Examination Processes - Amendment 4. This MIN will be valid until June 30, 2026.
MSN 1858 (M) Amendment 1, Training & Certification Guidance: UK Requirements
for Deck Officers on Large Yachts (24m and over).
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