Tonnage measurement of UK ships: Authorised organisations
This webpage provides a list of organisations authorised under UK legislation to conduct tonnage measurement and issue certification on UK registered vessels.
1. Introduction and background
The following legislation provides the legal requirements for the measurement of a ship’s tonnage for registration purposes:
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The Merchant Shipping Act 1995:
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The Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 1510):
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The Merchant Shipping (Fishing Vessels – Tonnage) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988 No.1909) (Apply to fishing vessels under 24 m length).
The legislation also requires that the person undertaking tonnage measurements satisfies the requirements set out by the MCA.
Recognised Organisations (ROs) are those organisations the UK has recognised to comply with its international obligations in relation to the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Code for Recognised Organisations.
Small commercial vessel (SCV) Certifying Authorities (CAs) are those organisations the UK has authorised to examine and certificate SCVs in accordance with the requirements of the following legislation:
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The Merchant Shipping (Small Workboats and Pilot Boats) Regulations 2023(SI 2023 No.1216 as amended); and
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The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No. 2771 as amended).
Fishing Vessel Certifying Authorities (FVCAs) are those organisations the UK has authorised to examine and certificate small fishing vessels in accordance with the applicable requirements of the following legislation and codes:
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The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993
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MSN 1871 as maybe amended, (The Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall);
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MSN 1872 as maybe amended, (The Code of Safe Working Practice for the Construction and Use of Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length)
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MGN 630 - FISHING VESSELS: Pre-Registration surveys for Fishing vessels of less than 15m Length Overall built before 16 July 2007 and existing vessels of 15m Length overall to less than 24m Registered Length wishing to join the UK Register
ROs are authorised to undertake tonnage measurement of all UK ships.
SCV CAs are authorised to undertake tonnage measurement of ships under 24 metres in length excluding fishing vessels. SCV CAs are also authorised to undertake tonnage measurement of pre-ITC’69 vessels (keel laid before 21st July 1968) of less than 150 tons but 24m in length or over.
FVCAs can be authorised to undertake tonnage measurement of fishing vessels under 24 metres in length.
2. Authorised Organisations to measure tonnage by vessel type and length
| All UK Ships of 24m in length and above | All UK ships under 24m in length excluding fishing vessels | Fishing vessels under 24m in length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | X | X | X |
| BV | X | X | X |
| Class NK | X * | X | |
| DNV | X | X | X |
| LR | X | X | X |
| RINA | X | X | X |
| IIMS | X | ||
| MECAL | X | X | |
| RYA | X | ||
| SCMS | X | X | |
| YDSA | X |
*Note: Class NK is not authorised for tonnage measurements of fishing vessels
3. List of Tonnage Authorities
The following is a list of the offices of Recognised Organisations and Certifying Authorities authorised by the MCA as ‘Tonnage Authorities’ through formal agreement to undertake tonnage measurement of UK ships:
Recognised Organisations (ROs)
American Bureau of Shipping Europe Ltd
Eagle House
10 Berrymoor Court
Northumberland Business Park
Cramlington
NE23 7RZ
Tel: +44 (0) 19 1250 4900
Email: absnewcastleontyne@eagle.org
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Suite 1 and 2
Keel House
Tyne Dock
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE34 9PY
Tel: +44 (0) 19 1427 8170
Email: gbr_clo@uk.bureauveritas.com
Class NK
Nippon Kaiji Kyokai
Leaf C, Tower 42
25 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HQ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 5102
Email: ln@classnk.or.jp
DNV-GL Maritime
24 Steel House
4300 Parkway
Solent Business Park
Whiteley
Hampshire
PO15 7FP
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8074 5940
Email: helpdeskdate@dnv.com
Lloyd’s Register EMEA</b>
Global Technology Centre
Hampshire House
Hampshire Corporate Park
Southampton
SO53 3RY
Tel: +44 (0) 33 0414 1000
Email: MCA.CodesofPractice@lr.org
Web: https://www.lr.org/en/contact-us/
RINA UK Ltd
North Wing,1st Floor
2 Charlotte Place
Southampton
Hampshire
SO14 0TB
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8033 2271
Email: southampton.office@rina.org, uk.marine@rina.org
Web: https://www.rina.org/en/business/marine
Small Commercial Vessel Certifying Authorities (SCV CAs)
International Institute of Marine Surveying
Murrills House
48 East Street
Portchester
PO16 9XS
Tel: +44 (0) 23 9238 5223
Email: ca@iims.org.uk
MECAL Ltd
Office Suite 4, Endeavour House
Oceansgate
Devonport
Plymouth
PL1 4RW
Tel: +44 (0) 17 5225 1211
Email: admin@mecal.co.uk
Royal Yachting Association
RYA House
Ensign Way
Hamble
Southampton
SO31 4YA
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8060 4100
Email: scvcert@rya.org.uk
Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors
Ground Floor
Unit 5, Prospect House
7 Ocean Way
Southampton
SO14 3TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8001 6494
Email: sec@scmshq.org
Email as FVCA: fv@scmshq.org
Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association
The Glass Works
3b Penns Road
Petersfield
Hampshire
GU32 2EW
Tel: +44 (0) 17 3071 0425
Email: tonnage@ybdsa.co.uk
4. More information
For more information or to apply to act as a Tonnage Authority, please contact:
External monitoring and assurance
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Bay 3/07
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road Southampton
SO15 1EG
E-mail: externalmonitoring@mcga.gov.uk
Updates to this page
Last updated 16 August 2024 + show all updates
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Removed Burness Corlett Three Quays International Ltd from the list of small commercial vessel certifying authorities.
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Updated Merchant Shipping (Small Workboats and Pilot Boats) Regulations 2023. Minor change to table at section 2 (Mecal) and multiple addresses of tonnage authorities updated.
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- We have added Section 2 (and the table). - Added links to the regulations - Updated address and contact information
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First published.