Evidence of knowledge of English language

The following is acceptable evidence of competency in English. The UK Ship Register will need to see documented proof of attainment in one of the following methods:

• Confirmation of proficiency by a UK Ship Register surveyor on board ship or in one of our Marine Offices.
• Passing the Marlins test at an approved Marlins Test Centre (currently available in Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, the Philippines, India, Latvia, Russia and Spain – addresses available from the Marlin website www.marlins.co.uk)  This must be accompanied by either a Marlin’s Test of Spoken English (TOSE) or a company interview to confirm that the owners/managers have assessed the seafarer’s spoken English to be of an acceptable standard in order to carry out their shipboard duties. The results of the interview can be relayed in a letter from the company to the UK Ship Register. The TOSE or the letter must be accompanied by the normal Marlin’s test certificate indicating a pass at the levels indicated below.
  
    Deck Officers
         Senior Deck Officers 90%
         Junior Deck Officers 80%
  
     Engineering Officers
         Senior Engineering Officers 80%
         Junior Engineering Officers 70%

• Satisfying the UK Ship Register that English is the candidate’s mother tongue (first language).
• Holding a STCW 95 Certificate of Competency for which the examinations were conducted in English.
• Holding an advanced English Language Certificate issued by the British Council or an International Language Testing System (IELTS) Test Report showing at least Overall Band 6.
• Holding a Certificate of TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) as applicable for admission into US universities.
• Holding a Berlitz Language School Level 2+ Certificate endorsed by the company.
• Passing the UK Ship Register English language test administered on our behalf by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and conducted by arrangement with SQA in any British Council office anywhere in the world.

UK legal and administrative processess (UKLAP) requirments

Applicants for Master will be required to take the UKLAP Grade 1 “open book” written test, or with UK Ship Register approval, an oral examination conducted at one of our Marine Offices. Applicants who have not taken the UKLAP Grade 1 test may be given temporary CECs to serve as Master for the 6 month validity of the CEC, during which time they must take and pass the UKLAP Grade 1 written test or oral examination.

UKLAP Oral Assessment: Grade 1 For Master

1. List of Certificates and Documents required to be carried on a UK flagship:
   • Period and validity or SAFCON, SEC and Radio certificates on UK cargo ships
   • Period and validity of PC on UK passenger ships
2. Role and function of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, including:
   • UK Ship Register
   • HM Coastguard;
   • Enforcement Unit;
   • Statutory surveys;
   • Port State Control.
3. Certificate of British Registry:
   • Information contained within;
   • Period of validity;
   • Procedure in event of loss or destruction of Register.
4. Assistance overseas: role of the British Consul to assist the Master.
5. Documentation required to be presented on signing on:
   • Officers;
   • Ratings;
   • Procedure for verifying authenticity of UK seafarers’ Certificates.
6. Entries to be made in Official Log Book:
   • Dedicated pages;
   • Narrative section to include disciplinary procedures;
   • Procedure for return to UK Ship Register - RSS.
7. Crew Agreement:
   • Format of Crew Agreement;
   • Role of Master as Company Agent;
   • Procedure for closing an Agreement;
   • Engagement and discharge;
   • Law relating to young persons.
8. Seaman left behind:
   • Failed to return from shore leave;
   • Hospitalised.
9. Death onboard:
   • Crew member or passenger.
10. Role of the MAIB:
    • Master’s role in reporting accidents, collision, fire, grounding, personal injury, etc.
11. Provision of Muster, Drills and Training on board.
12. Provision of Health and Safety on UK ships:
    • Safety Officials, safety meetings and the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen, including risk assessment.

Suggested reading material for UKLAP examination

Reference Books:

Shipmasters Business Companion (and annual supplements) by Malcolm Maclachlan from:The Nautical Institute
202 Lambeth Road
London SE1 7LQ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7 928 1351
Fax: +44 (0)20 7 401 2817
E-mail: pubs@nautinst.org

The Shipmaster’s Business Self-Examiner by Malcolm Maclachlan from:
Kelvin Hughes
Unit 5
St Luke’s Business Estate
St Luke’s Place
Glasgow
G5 0TS
Tel: +44 (0)141 221 5452
Fax: +44 (0)141 221 4688
E-mail: glasgow@kelvinhughes.co.uk

Guidance and Information:

Merchant Shipping Notices

Merchant Shipping Notices are available individually or by annual subscription from:

Mail Marketing (Scotland)
Unit 6, Bloomsgrove Industrial Estate
Norton Street
NOTTINGHAM
NG7 3JG
Tel: +44 (0)115 901 3336
Fax: +44 (0)115 901 3334

Or by annual subscription from the
UK Ship Register:
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
SOUTHAMPTON
SO15 1EG
Tel: +44 (0)23 8032 9106
Fax: +44 (0)23 8032 9388

They can also be accessed at the MCA’s website or from MCA Marine Offices.

Legislation:

Primary Merchant Shipping Act 1995

Statutory Instruments:

• Official Log Book Regulations SI 1981/569
• (Amend) SI 1985/1828
• (Amend) SI 1991/2145
• (Amend) SI 1997/1511
• Seaman’s Document Regulations SI 1987/408
• (Amend) SI 1995/1900
• (Amend) SI 1999/3281
• Repatriation Regulations SI 1979/97
• Returns of Births and Deaths Regulations SI 1979/1577
• Crew Agreement, List of Crew and Discharge of Seamen Regulations SI 1991/2144
• Health & Safety at Work Regulations SI 1997/2962
• H&S Employment of Young Persons Regulations SI 1998/2411

Many Statutory Instruments are available, free to read and download, on the HMSO website at the following addresses: www.hmso.gov.uk

Statutory Instruments prior to 1987 are not available on these websites. They can be purchased from TSO at the following address:

The Stationary Office Ltd
PO Box 29
Norwich
NR3 1GN
Tel: +44 (0)870 600 5522
Fax: +44 (0)870 600 5533

Further related documents

Training and Certification series of MGNs:

Parts 1-21 Training and Certification Regulations SI 1997/348
(Amend) SI 1997/1911
(Amend) SI 2000/836

Minimum Standards of Safety Communications Regulations SI 1997/529
(Amend) SI 1999/1704

Safe Manning, Hours of Work & Watchkeeping Regulations SI 1997/1320

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