Fishing Skipper Licence

The Skipper's certificate for UK fishing vessels is the pinnacle of the commercial fishing qualification framework — the licence that allows you to command a working fishing boat of any size, anywhere in the world. Getting there requires documented sea time, medical fitness, structured training, and passing a rigorous MCA oral examination. This guide covers every step of the process.

The Certificate Hierarchy

UK fishing vessel certificates are regulated by the MCA and structured around operational range and vessel size. There are three Skipper-level certificates:

• Skipper FV Restricted Waters — command within defined inshore limits only
• Skipper FV Near Coastal — command within 200 nautical miles of a safe haven in coastal waters
• Skipper FV Unlimited — command of any UK-flagged fishing vessel, anywhere in the world

Below Skipper level, the Mate FV certificates (Near Coastal and Unlimited) provide the watchkeeping qualification required before command is possible on larger vessels. Entry into the system typically starts with the Efficient Deck Hand (Fishing) certificate and progresses upward through documented sea service and formal examination at each stage.

The FV2 Medical Certificate

All commercial fishing crew require a valid FV2 seafarer medical certificate before serving on a fishing vessel. The medical is conducted by an MCA-approved Medical Examiner and assesses:

• Vision (corrected vision acceptable for most grades)
• Colour vision (required for watch functions)
• Hearing
• Cardiovascular fitness
• Diabetes, epilepsy, and other medical conditions that may affect safe operation

The certificate is valid for 2 years (or 1 year for those over 65 or with disclosed medical conditions). A full list of approved medical examiners is available through the MCA's online service at gov.uk/mca. Cost is typically £80–£130.

Sea Time Requirements

Sea time must be served on commercial fishing vessels and logged in an approved manner. General requirements by certificate level:

Sea time must be verifiable — signed entries in a Seaman's Discharge Book or equivalent documentation. Skippers and vessel owners will need to countersign your time. Begin recording service properly from your first commercial voyage.

The Training Pathway

Beyond sea time, formal training is required at each stage. Seafish is the UK industry body responsible for training standards in commercial fishing and maintains a register of approved training centres by region. Training typically covers:

• Navigation and chartwork (paper and electronic)
• Meteorology and passage planning
• Stability and loading calculations
• Engineering knowledge (engine watchkeeping and fault diagnosis)
• Fishing methods and gear handling
• Emergency procedures and crew management

Safety training — sea survival, fire fighting, first aid — is mandated separately and must be kept current throughout your career. Refresher requirements apply at 5-year intervals.

The MCA Oral Examination

The MCA oral examination is conducted by a professional examiner at an MCA Marine Office or approved centre. The examiner will assess both practical knowledge and judgment — not just whether you know the rules, but whether you would make safe, competent decisions under pressure.

Common examination areas include:

• COLREGS (Collision Regulations) — rule application in practical scenarios
• Port signals, light buoyage, and IALA buoyage interpretation
• Passage planning for realistic voyages
• Vessel stability in varying loading and sea conditions
• Emergency procedures: man overboard, fire, flooding, search and rescue
• Crew management and MLC 2006 basic obligations

Preparation matters enormously. Study groups, oral exam tutors (often retired skippers or MCA surveyors), and practice runs with colleagues who have recently passed are all effective. The MCA publishes examination syllabi for each certificate level — start there and work backward.

Fishing Vessel Endorsements

Beyond the base certificate, specific vessel endorsements may be required or advantageous:

• Radar Observer Certificate — required for vessels fitted with navigational radar
• GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) — required if operating VHF DSC equipment
• Restricted Radio Operator's Certificate — for vessels with radiotelephone only