MECAL is a leading UK Certifying Authority for the survey and certification of commercial sailing vessels, motor vessels and workboats up to 24 metres Load Line Length. We are directly authorised by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and hold delegation from a number of Red Ensign Group Flag States, including Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, enabling us to apply the relevant Codes of Practice to vessels registered under these administrations.
Founded by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST), MECAL’s heritage is firmly rooted in professional engineering and regulatory standards. Our surveyors and naval architects are qualified to the highest professional levels and bring extensive experience across commercial vessel design, construction, survey, and operation.
We have a detailed understanding of the small commercial vessel and workboat sector and apply regulatory requirements in a practical, proportionate, and risk-based manner. Our surveyors are encouraged to engage constructively with owners, operators, designers, and builders, providing guidance and technical clarity alongside the formal application of statutory requirements.
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MECAL has played an active role in the development of the Small Commercial Vessel and Workboat Codes for over 25 years, contributing to MCA technical working groups and supporting the drafting, interpretation, and implementation of successive Code revisions. This long-standing involvement ensures that our advice reflects both the intent and the practical application of the regulations.
All surveys and certification activities are coordinated and overseen by MECAL’s Head Office Technical Department, ensuring consistency of interpretation and application of Code requirements regardless of vessel location or appointed surveyor. This central oversight is a key element of our ISO 9001 quality management system.
To support efficient certification and cost control, we provide clients with clear technical specifications and detailed guidance on Code requirements, enabling effective preparation for survey and minimising unnecessary delays, repeat visits, or additional costs.
In addition to vessel coding, MECAL can advise on a wide range of marine legislation and undertake vessel assessments against recognised national and international standards, supporting owners and operators throughout the full lifecycle of their vessels.
Owners, operators and builders are encouraged to contact MECAL at an early stage to discuss their coding requirements and to ensure a clear, efficient and compliant route to certification.
If you need to transfer a vessel to or from us, please follow this guide:
Complete a Change of CA form (download below) and send it in to us at admin@mecal.co.uk
Contact your current certifying authority and ask: “Please transfer the vessel file for (vessel name) to Mecal"
When emailing your previous certifying authority copy in admin@mecal.co.uk, this will enable us to follow up and chase as necessary.
We will check if a survey is required and allocate a surveyor accordingly. If you are not due a survey we will simply charge a certificate amendment to issue a new Mecal certificate in line with your original dates.
