The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published fresh guidance on applying for a range of seafarer certificates, the regulator announced on 1 November 2026.
The guidance, titled How to apply for Able Seafarer, Rating certificates and EDH requirements, sets out instructions on applying for STCW Watch Ratings, Yacht Ratings and Able Seafarer certificates. It also provides information on gaining an Efficient Deck Hand certificate.
The document is presented by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as the central explanation for the application processes covered. The published item carries the date 1 November 2026.
Who the guidance is aimed at
The guidance is aimed at seafarers and others involved with watchkeeping and ratings certification who require clarity on application routes for the specified certificates. It explicitly addresses those seeking STCW Watch Ratings, Yacht Ratings, Able Seafarer certification and the Efficient Deck Hand qualification.
What the guidance contains
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the material explains how to apply for the named certificates and outlines the information relating to the Efficient Deck Hand certificate. The guidance therefore brings the four certificate types into a single reference for applicants.
The advisory material is a consolidated resource issued by the UK regulator and dated 1 November 2026. The document title is reproduced here to aid identification: How to apply for Able Seafarer, Rating certificates and EDH requirements.
The publication will serve as the formal point of reference for the procedures and information the agency has chosen to publish under that heading. It is presented as an authoritative compilation of the application instructions and EDH information specified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Readers seeking the measures described should consult the published guidance to confirm the steps relevant to STCW Watch Ratings, Yacht Ratings, Able Seafarer certificates or the Efficient Deck Hand certificate. The agency’s publication provides the source material for those application and qualification matters.
The Maritime Gazette will reflect the existence of the guidance for readers undertaking certification and for those tracking regulatory publications from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The document date and title given here identify the specific item released by the agency on 1 November 2026.