MCA

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is required to comply with the guidance set out in HM Treasury’s publication Managing Public Money when recovering the full cost of the fee-funded services it provides in its role as a regulator which covers direct and indirect costs associated with delivering services to the public. The full cost recovery norm to fees ensures Government neither profits at the expense of consumers nor makes a loss for taxpayers to subsidise.

Since September 2006, the MCA has not changed its fee level and has consequently absorbed increases in ship registrations, ship surveys and merchant navy training costs. As a result, the industry has paid below-cost fees so the services which the industry has received have been publicly subsidised. There has been a shortfall between income and costs for the services provided in each year since 2010-11 (and likely since 2006). The shortfall for 2010-11 (the base year) is estimated at £3.7m (in 2010 prices). MCA efficiency improvements have helped maintain standards while keeping costs down.

Continue reading “The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has launched a consultation on its fees”

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has chosen Oceans HQ to provide a new digital vessel registration system. This is a major part of the MCA’s 2016-2017 business plan and should improve the way the flag administration provides a range of services.

Oceans HQ’s Vessel HQ software is already in operation with a number of other flag states. It is a software platform that maritime administrations use for managing the registry of ships and meeting their international obligations to the IMO. Oceans HQ partnered with Thoughtbot London to deliver the modern software solution to the MCA.

Continue reading “UK MCA to launch a new digital vessel registration system”