The 12 certificates every UK coded vessel needs (and when they renew)

The headline certificate. Issued for five years but subject to annual renewal inspection. Confirms the vessel is built and equipped to operate within its assigned Category (0 through 6). The annual renewal is what surveyors are confirming when they raise deficiencies.

Mandatory for chartering operations. The surveyor expects a certificate showing the policy is in force on the day of inspection, with the operating area aligned to your Category. Minimum cover is typically £5m for under-12-passenger operations.

Annual service of every life raft on board. The new SPV Code 2025 explicitly requires the service certificate to be available — not just the service sticker on the raft. Photograph and file the PDF, don't trust the sticker.

Hand-held flares, parachute flares, smoke signals. SOLAS-rated only. Expiry stamped on each cartridge — the surveyor will check the latest one. Cat C pyrotechnics packs run 3 years; Cat B (offshore) run 4. Replace before the date on the case.

Required for any vessel carrying a VHF radio used commercially. Issued by Ofcom on a 10-year cycle. Free to renew — the most-forgotten certificate because there's no invoice to remind you. The MMSI on the licence must match the radio.

The EPIRB itself must be registered with the MCA on the UK's COSPAS-SARSAT register, and the battery serviced on the manufacturer's schedule (typically 5 years). The Code expects the registration to be current — re-confirm contact details annually.

Original stability documentation, signed by a recognised naval architect, that reflects the vessel as currently configured. The SPV Code 2025 consolidates this into a single declaration route for under-15 m vessels — see our SPV Code 2025 explainer. If your vessel has been altered (engines, tankage, structural), the stability book must be re-issued.

Every person on board with commercial-watch responsibility needs a valid ENG1 medical. Two-year validity from issue. If a crew member's ENG1 lapses, they cannot stand watch on the vessel. The surveyor checks every ticket on the manning list.

Yachtmaster Coastal Commercial, Yachtmaster Offshore Commercial, Boatmaster Tier 1/2, or equivalent depending on Category. Commercial endorsement valid for 5 years subject to revalidation evidence (sea time, refresher courses). Confirm the ticket level matches the Category.

At least one person on board operating the VHF radio must hold an SRC. The certificate itself is lifetime (no expiry) but operators are expected to maintain familiarity. The Code references the SRC as the minimum operator qualification for VHF DSC radio.

STCW-aligned First Aid at Sea certificate, valid 3 years. At least one person on board must be current. The first aid kit on the vessel must align with the latest MCA specification (the spec list was updated in the SPV Code 2025).

Newly mandatory for SPV Code 2025 charter operations. An 11-section document covering emergency procedures, drill schedule, equipment maintenance routine, owner declarations, and the annual review record. Surveyors will ask to see it on the day. Drafting one in plain English takes a couple of hours; CodedOK auto-drafts a tailored SMS from a six-question wizard.