The UK is a flag state. The role of a flag state is defined by UNCLOS (The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) Article 94. The MCA is the administration of the flag state.
There are two main components of the UK flag state; the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. The MCA is further divided into the UK Ships Register, His Majesty’s Coast Guard, the Surveying Branch, and the Enforcement Branch.
You need to show your examiner that you know about these organisations and understand what they do.
Relevant documents and M-notices: The Merchant Shipping Act 1995, The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012,
The Department for Transport is a ministerial department of the UK Government. The MCA is an executive agency and is part of the Department for Transport. The MCA comprises the Surveying and Enforcement branches, His Majesties Coastguard and the UK Ship Register. The MAIB is an independent unit within the Department for Transport.
The MCA
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is an executive agency of the UK Government. This means that it has the power to create legislation, and provide certification to ships and seafarers. Note that parliament must approve MCA-generated legislation for it to become UK law. The MCA is responsible for implementing the international maritime conventions (e.g. SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC, STCW, Load Lines).
From their website:
We work to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea. We produce legislation and guidance on maritime matters, and provide certification to seafarers.
The UKSR (United Kingdom Ship Register)
The UKSR is part of the MCA.
MS Act 1995, Regulation 8:
There shall continue to be a register of British ships for all registrations of ships in the United Kingdom.
The UKSR are responsible for maintaining a register of all UK-flagged vessels. They issue and maintain a vessels Certificate of Registry and Continuous Synopsis Record.
They are also responsible for receiving returns from the master; of the Official Log Book and the list of seafarers.
MCA surveying branch
MCA surveyors are responsible for:
Control and survey of UK flagged vessels (flag state control)
Control and inspection of non-UK flagged vessels visiting UK port (port state control)
Conduct of examinations and issue of Certificates of Competency (CoCs)
Issue of Flag State Endorsements (FSEs), formerly known as Certificates of Equivalent Competency.
You must grant access to your vessel to an MCA surveyor on request; failure to do so is a criminal offence.
What is the difference between flag state control and port state control?
Port State Control is the inspection of a foreign ship in a national port (e.g a British flagged ship in a French port) to verify that the ship and its equipment comply with international regulations (SOLAS, MARPOL etc).
Flag State Control is the inspection of a national ship in a national port (e.g a British ship in a British port) to verify that the ship and its equipment comply with national regulations.