The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published updated guidance titled "MSN 1862 (M) - Amendment 1 - UK Requirements for Deck Ratings", dated 1 November 2026, setting out the qualifying conditions for deck ratings certificates and able seafarer’s deck certificates.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued the amendment as an addendum to the existing MSN 1862 (M) framework. The document clarifies the qualifying conditions that candidates must meet to obtain deck ratings and the able seafarer’s deck certificate in the United Kingdom.
MSN 1862 (M) - Amendment 1 is presented as guidance for those directly involved in seafarer certification and training. The agency positions the material as the reference for how qualifying conditions are to be interpreted under the MSN 1862 (M) series.
Scope of the amendment
The published note focuses on the qualifying conditions for two categories of deck certification: deck ratings certificates and able seafarer’s deck certificates. The guidance details the conditions that determine eligibility to hold these certificates and how the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will advertise those requirements.
The amendment is explicit about its purpose: to set out the qualifying thresholds that applicants must meet for the named deck qualifications. The document is aimed at ensuring consistency in the application of those thresholds across the UK regime.
Who should read the guidance
The agency’s guidance is of direct relevance to seafarers seeking deck ratings or able seafarer’s deck certification. It is also material for training providers, employers and certifying officers who assess candidate eligibility against the qualifying conditions.
Employers and training organisations are likely to consult the amendment when advising crew members on routes to certification and when arranging practical and theoretical preparation. Certifying officers and administrators will use the guidance as the standard for verifying whether documentary and practical evidence meets the stated qualifying conditions.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency dated the release 1 November 2026, and the document is filed as Amendment 1 to MSN 1862 (M). The publication acts as the formal statement of the qualifying conditions under the UK requirements for deck ratings and able seafarer’s deck certificates.
The guidance does not stand alone; it sits within the broader MSN 1862 (M) framework and should be read alongside related maritime safety notices. The amendment is presented as a focused update clarifying eligibility rather than a wholesale revision of the existing certification regime.
Readers seeking to confirm whether they meet the qualifying conditions should consult the text of MSN 1862 (M) - Amendment 1 directly. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is the publishing authority for the guidance and the dated item records the amendment as published on 1 November 2026.
Summary of the published item:
- Title: MSN 1862 (M) - Amendment 1 - UK Requirements for Deck Ratings.
- Publisher: UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
- Date: 1 November 2026.
- Purpose: To outline the qualifying conditions for deck ratings certificates and able seafarer’s deck certificates.
The Maritime Gazette will monitor further notices from the agency for any subsequent clarifications or additional amendments to the MSN series. For the present, Amendment 1 stands as the authoritative statement of the qualifying conditions named in the publication.