24/2/23, 13:51 Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Wikipedia

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the United Kingdom
that responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy. It works Maritime and Coastguard
to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to prevent marine pollution. It is a subsidiary executive agency Agency
of the UK Department for Transport and responsible through the Secretary of State for Transport to
Parliament. It is also responsible for land based search and rescue helicopter operations since
2015.[2] Its motto is "Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas". The organisation is currently led by
Damien Oliver.[1]
Abbreviation MCA
Responsibilities Legal status Executive agency

Its responsibilities include coordinating search and rescue (SAR) on the coastline and at sea through Purpose Maritime Regulator
His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG), ensuring that ships meet international and UK safety standards, Location Southampton
monitoring and preventing coastal water pollution and testing and issuing Merchant Navy
Region United Kingdom
Certificates of Competency (licences) for ships' officers and crew to STCW requirements.[3] The served
MCA is chiefly responsible for the syllabus and national training standards issued by the Merchant coast
Navy Training Board (based at the UK Chamber of Shipping).[4] Chief Damien Oliver[1]
Executive
The MCA has three distinct "outward facing" elements - provision of search and rescue and Parent Department for
prevention activity through His Majesty's Coastguard, port and flag state control of shipping organisation Transport
through a network of Marine Offices and the development of international standards and policy for
shipping through the International Maritime Organization. MCA utilizes airborne assets in the form Website www.gov.uk/mca
of helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and drones for SAR, and other, operations and is going to make (https://www.gov.u
greater use of these technologies under the UKSAR2G contract to be awarded in 2024.[5] k/mca)

The MCA has now established an automatic identification system (AIS) network around the UK coast, for real-time tracking and
monitoring of shipping movements from the shore.

History

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24/2/23, 13:51 Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Wikipedia

The MCA was established on 1 April 1998 following a government merger of the UK Coastguard
Agency and the UK Marine Safety Agency (MSA).[6]

The MCA was led by Vice Admiral Sir Alan Michael Massey between 2010 and 2018.[7] Brian
Johnson then served as Chief Executive of the MCA between 2018 and 2022.[8]

See also
HQ of the Maritime & Coastguard
Code of safe working practices Agency, Commercial Road,
Merchant navy Southampton
Royal National Lifeboat Institution

References
1. "Oliver Named Interim Head of UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency" (https://www.marinelink.com/news/oliver-named-interim-head-
uk-maritime-500045). Marine Link. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
2. About us, MCA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/about), GOV.UK. Retrieved 18
March 2016.
3. UK MCA CoC Requirements (https://www.edumaritime.net/uk-mca)
4. "MNTB - Mission and Vision" (http://mntb.org.uk/about-us/our-vision-and-mission/). Retrieved 3 July 2016.
5. McKenzie, Steven (28 May 2020). "Coastguard plans to add drones to air fleet" (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-is
lands-52821363). BBC News. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
6. Chris Harris (1998). Annual Report and Accounts 1997-98 (Report). OECD.
7. "Sir Alan Massey is retiring from the MCA after eight years at the helm" (https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/16092209.sir-alan-masse
y-retiring-mca-eight-years-helm/). Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
8. "Brian Johnson to step down as CEO of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency" (https://www.iims.org.uk/brian-johnson-to-step-down-
as-ceo-of-the-maritime-and-coastguard-agency/). International Institute of Marine Surveying. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 10 October
2022.

External links
Official website (https://www.gov.uk/mca/)

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