MSF 4509 Rev 11/24

Application for a UK Discharge

Book and / or a British
Seaman’s Card
IMPORTANT – Before you begin, please read all the Guidance on pages 7 to 11 and use the checklist.
We cannot process your application without all required information, or if the information provided is unclear.
Please send the original, ‘wet’ signed application to the address provided. Photocopies or scans cannot be
accepted. The document will be produced from the information contained in this application.

Please clearly mark all boxes that are relevant to your application:
UK Discharge Book British Seaman’s Card Delivery
First Issue First Issue UK Delivery

Continuation Issue * Renewal Issue

International Delivery
Replacement Issue * Replacement Issue (Payments Note 9)
* Please enter the document number of your existing UK Discharge Book here:

Part A: Personal Details

Date of
Title (not compulsory): DD / MM / YYYY
birth:
Surname:
Forename(s)
(include middle names):

Previous names (if applicable):

Place of Birth (town or city):

Height in Metres: Country of
(conversion chart page 10) Birth:
Nationality
(British
Colour of Eyes: Nationality Act
1981):

National Insurance Number (mandatory for BSCs):

Distinguishing Marks (20 characters maximum):

Full Home Address Address for return of documents

(if different from Home Address)

Address

Town / City
Postcode
Country
Contact Telephone Number(s)
Email Address
Next of Kin Full Name Relationship to
you
Their address
 Part B: Declaration for a UK Discharge Book
I wish to apply for a UK Discharge Book. I confirm the personal details provided in Part A are correct and I am
aware that I may be required to supply supporting evidence.
I declare that (* delete as applicable):
a. I am employed / have been offered employment* on a United Kingdom registered vessel,
OR
b. I am a United Kingdom seafarer with the Right of Abode in the UK and am employed / have been
offered employment* on a non-United Kingdom registered vessel and I am unable to obtain a discharge
book from the Flag State of that vessel for the following reason(s) (please provide full details):

c. I have not at any time held a seaman’s document containing the same information as a UK Discharge
Book issued by one of the Governments listed in Note 3,
OR
d. I am applying for replacement of my existing UK Discharge Book (note: if your existing UK Discharge
Book is full, please submit it with this application or enclose clear copies of the pages which include
your personal details and your latest service entries. If, however, your UK Discharge Book has been
lost or damaged, a full explanation of the circumstances should be provided in Part F),
AND (applicable to all applicants)
e. I am aware that it is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in order to obtain a
UK Discharge Book and hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the details provided
in this application are correct.

Signature: Date: DD / MM / YYYY

Part C: Declaration for a British Seaman’s Card

I wish to apply for a British Seaman’s Card. I confirm the personal details provided in Part A are correct and I
am aware that I may be required to supply supporting evidence.
I declare that:
a. I am a British citizen with the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom,
AND
b. I am currently employed as a seafarer and am applying for the first issue of a British Seaman’s Card
and do not already hold a seaman’s identity document issued by the United Kingdom Government or
any of the Governments listed in Note 4,
OR
c. I am applying for replacement of my British Seaman’s Card (note – if your existing British Seaman’s
Card has expired, it should be submitted with this application. If, however, your British Seaman’s Card
has been lost or damaged, a full explanation of the circumstances should be provided in Part F),
AND (applicable to all applicants)
d. I am aware that it is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in order to obtain a
British Seaman’s Card and hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the details
provided in this application are correct.

Signature: Date: DD / MM / YYYY 2

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 Part D: Vessel Owners Declaration for a UK Discharge Book (Required for new applications
and Continuations or Replacements where last entry is over 3 years old)

IMPORTANT – This MUST be completed by your current or prospective vessel owner in block capitals, with
original, ‘wet’ signatures and stamps, selecting either Option 1 or Option 2 as appropriate. Please ensure
signatories (if not vessel owner) provide Letters of Authorisation from the vessel owners confirming they are
eligible to sign on their behalf (*Delete as appropriate).

I am the *owner /authorised signatory of the vessel declared below and confirm the applicant
(full name)…………………….……………….. in the role of ………………………………., holds a MLC contract
of employment and STCW-PSSR certificate (see guidance notes), is integral to the operations of the vessel
and,

1. is serving/will serve on the following UK registered vessel:

Name of Vessel:
Registered port: Official Number:
OR

2. is a United Kingdom seafarer with the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom and will serve on the
following non-United Kingdom registered vessel, but is unable to obtain a Discharge book from or
acceptable to, the Flag State of the vessel for the following reason(s): (please provide full details)

Name of Vessel:
Registered port: Official Number:
Country of Registration
AND

I understand that it is an offence to knowingly make a false statement in order to obtain a UK Discharge Book
and hereby declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the details provided in this application are
correct.
Declarant full name Declarant Role

Signature of Declarant Date DD / MM / YYYY

Declarant email

Please note: if a company or vessel does not have a seal or stamp, they must provide an original
letter on company headed paper confirming this.

Vessel / Owners Company Name Ship / Owners Company Seal

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 Part E: Employers Declaration for a British Seaman’s Card
(Required for new applications and renewal applications if expiry is over 3 years ago)

IMPORTANT – This MUST be completed by your current or prospective vessel owner in block
capitals, with original, ‘wet’ signatures and stamps. Please ensure signatories (if not vessel owner)
provide Letters of Authorisation from the vessel owners confirming they are eligible to sign on their
behalf.

I am the *owner /authorised signatory of the vessel declared below and confirm the applicant

(full name)………………………………………….. in the role of ………………………………., is a United

Kingdom seafarer with the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom holds a MLC contract of employment and

Safety Training Certificate and Watchkeeping (STCW), and is serving:

on the vessel (vessel name):

at sea, in the role of: .

I understand that it is an offence to knowingly make a false statement in order to obtain a British Seaman’s
Card and hereby declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the details provided in this application
are correct.

Declarant full name Declarant Role

Signature of Declarant Date DD / MM / YYYY

Declarant email

Please note: if a company or vessel does not have a seal or stamp, they must provide an original
letter on company headed paper confirming this.

Vessel / Employers / Company Name Ship / Company Seal

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 Part F: Replacement of a UK Discharge Book or British Seaman’s Card

Please explain what happened to your previous DB/BSC, indicating how it was lost or damaged
(where applicable, please include Police Incident numbers & enclose copies of any such reports):

If you hold a copy of the lost document, please include a copy with your application.

Part G: Counter Signatory (all applicants)

IMPORTANT – To be completed by a British Citizen, of appropriate standing (see Guidance Note

6) who has known you for at least two years. This person must also counter sign one of your
photographs, by adding their name, signature and the following statement to the reverse of this: “I
certify this is a true likeness of (your full name)”.

I, (Name of Declarant) am a British Citizen, in the profession of

, and I certify that this applicant has been known to me for

years, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the details provided in this application are

true and correct.

Signature of declarant:

Date: DD / MM / YYYY Office Stamp (if available):

Address:

Please note:
• Please ensure that two identical colour passport-style photographs are submitted per document sought
(i.e. four identical photographs for a DB & BSC).
• If you cannot provide a Counter Signature, please supply a certified colour copy of your passport.
• Please do not forward your original passport to our offices.

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 OFFICIAL USE ONLY
(Do not throw away)

Office of Issue, Date and Cashier’s Stamp and Receipt

Photograph
Stamp Number

Part H: Privacy Notice (all applicants)

We collect your personal information to enable us to carry out our official duties and ensure that our
services meet your needs. Once your payment has been processed, all the financial details you
have provided are securely destroyed.

For more information on how we use your personal information and your rights to access the details
we hold, please see the full privacy statement on our website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency

This is to confirm that I give my permission for the MCA to contact my employer direct on
my behalf for any information/documentation that may be missing from my application and
to act directly for me:

Signature: Date: DD / MM / YYYY

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 Guidance Notes
1. Accepted Formats
(a) Please note that photocopied or electronic versions of the application form cannot be
accepted. The application must be submitted in its original paper format and contain original,
‘wet’ signatures and stamps/seals.
(b) If a stamp/seal cannot be provided for the relevant Declaration(s), please provide a letter from
the vessel owner (Part D), vessel owner (Part E), on company-headed paper, which confirms
that this is not available.

2. General Eligibility (all applicants)

(a) Please do not apply for a Discharge Book or British Seaman’s Card if you are not a seafarer.
For further information, including roles excluded from the definition of this term, please consult
MGN 471 (especially Annex 1 and 2).
(b) Evidence must be provided by way of Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
(STCW) personal safety and social responsibility training (PSSR) and a seafarer employment
agreement or equivalent terms and conditions of employment plus letter from shipowner
attesting you are engaged to work onboard. Section D can be signed by authorized
representative on proof (First Issue only)
(c) We reserve the right to ask applicants to provide further information from their employer, in
order to establish if they are a seafarer.
(d) Further eligibility information specific to Discharge Books and British Seaman’s Card can be
found in Note 3 and 4, respectively.

3. A Discharge Book will NOT be issued if you:

(a) are employed on a vessel which is not registered with any Flag State.
(b) are a non-UK seafarer employed on a vessel that is registered outside of the UK.
(c) are employed as Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel.
(d) are employed on a vessel which does not go to sea.
(e) are employed on a pleasure vessel but do not receive any wages for your employment.
(f) are employed on a vessel engaged in coastal voyages around the UK solely for the purpose
of trials of the vessel, its machinery or equipment, where you are not ordinarily employed as a
master or seafarer.
(g) are employed by the Crown and are not ordinarily employed as a master or seafarer.
(h) are employed on a vessel solely in connection with its construction, alteration, repair or testing.
(i) already hold a UK Discharge Book (unless your book is full, and you are applying for a
continuation).
(j) If you already hold a document containing substantially the same information as a UK
Discharge Book issued by one of the Governments listed below:
Bangladesh Barbados Canada Falkland Islands Fiji
Ghana Guyana Hong Kong India Republic of Ireland
Isle of Man Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Malaysia
Malta Mauritius Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea
Saint Lucia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa
Sri Lanka Tanzania Tonga Trinidad & Tobago Tuvalu
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Western Samoa Zambia
A UK Discharge Book is not a travel document please refer to MGN 685
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mgn-685-mf-issue-of-discharge-books-
to-seafarers for the latest guidance on eligibility
 4. A British Seamans Card will NOT be issued if you:
(a) are employed on a ship belonging to a general lighthouse authority.
(b) receive little or no wages (unless you are a cadet).
(c) are not a citizen of the United Kingdom or a British Protected Person employed on a
ship registered outside of the United Kingdom, Channel Isles, the Isle of Man, or any
colony, protectorate, protected state or associated state.
(d) you hold a valid seaman’s identity document issued by one of the Governments listed
below:
Antigua & Barbuda Australia Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados
Belize Botswana Canada Republic of Cyprus Dominica
Falkland Islands Fiji Gambia Ghana Grenada
Guyana Hong Kong India Republic of Ireland Isle of Man
Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi
Malta Mauritius Nauru New Zealand Nigeria
Saint Vincent & the
Pakistan Papua New Guinea Saint Lucia Seychelles
Grenadines
Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands Sri Lanka Swaziland
Tanzania Tonga Trinidad & Tobago Tuvalu Uganda
Vanuatu Western Samoa Zambia Zimbabwe

Eligibility for a British Seaman’s Card guidance can be found in MGN 686
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mgn-686-mf-eligibility-for-british-
seamans-card/mgn-686-mf-eligibility-for-british-seamans-card

5. Photographs
(a) You will need to supply two identical colour passport-sized photographs for each
document that you are applying for. They should not be cut-down versions of a larger
picture. Note these photos will be ‘cropped’ by this office to 35mm high 25mm wide to
fit the respective document.
(b) These must be printed to a professional standard, be clear and in focus; they must
show a close-up of your full head and shoulders; they must contain no other objects
or people and you must appear in clear contrast to the background.
(c) Your photographs must:
i. Show you facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
ii. You must have a plain expression and your mouth must be closed
iii. Your eyes must be open and visible and not have hair in front of your eyes
iv. You must not have a head covering (unless it is for medical or religious
purposes)
v. You must not have anything covering your face; you must not be wearing
sunglasses or tinted glasses (you can be wearing ordinary glasses if
necessary
vi. Your eyes must be clearly visible without any glare or reflection).
(d) One of your photographs must be countersigned by the same person who has
countersigned the application at Part G. Please see Note 6 for further information. 8
 6. Counter Signatory
(a) Part G must be completed only by a British Citizen of appropriate standing, who has
known you for two years or more.
(b) This person must not be a member of your family.
(c) Examples of appropriate standing for your counter signatory include medical or legal
practitioners, civil servants, bank or public officials, police officers, MPs, Justices of
the Peace, religious ministers, senior officials of shipping companies, trade union
officials or any other person of similar standing.
(d) The counter signatory must write their name and signature on the back of one of your
photographs, along with the statement:
“I certify this is a true likeness of (applicant’s full name).”
(e) If you are unable to provide this, please provide a copy of your passport. Please see
Note 7 for further information.

7. Passport Copies
(a) A copy of your passport will be required if you are applying for a British Seaman’s
Card (UK passports only).
(b) If you are applying for a Discharge Book but cannot provide a counter signatory, then
a copy of your passport will also be required (non-UK passports accepted for
applicants aboard UK-registered vessels).
(c) For your own security, please do not post your physical passport to us.

GDPR Compliance

For GDPR compliance we are unable to contact your employer direct on your behalf
for missing information/documentation unless we have your express permission to do
so. Please read ‘SECTION H’ and sign and date if you agree.

8. Postal Address
All postal applications should be submitted to the following address:

REGISTRY OF SHIPPING AND SEAMEN

Anchor Court,
Keen Road
CARDIFF, CF24 5JW

TEL: 0203 908 5200

E-mail:
Seafarers.registry@mcga.gov.uk

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 9. Payment
Please use the secure Gov Pay payment site to pay the fee. Links for the options are as
follows:
a. Discharge Book- £55.00

https://www.gov.uk/payments/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/discharge-book

b. British Seamans Card- £55.00

https://www.gov.uk/payments/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/british-seamans-card

c. Discharge Book and BSC- £110.00

https://www.gov.uk/payments/maritime-and-coastguard-agency-rss/discharge-book-
and-bsc

d. Courier- £35.00 (this only applies to documents being sent outside the UK)

https://www.gov.uk/payments/maritime-and-coastguard-agency/courier

Service levels available

(a) For a postal application for a first issue, continuation or replacement Discharge Book
and/or British Seaman’s Card, completed applications will usually be processed
within ten working days, but this is subject to change.
(b) An emergency counter service is available at selective offices by appointment only,
and is subject to certain criteria being met. This incurs additional fees. Contact details
can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-
coastguard-agency/about/access-and-opening

Examples Height Conversion Chart (feet to metres)

4ft 9” 1.45m 5ft 2” 1.57m 5ft 7” 1.70m 6ft 0” 1.83m

4ft 10” 1.47m 5ft 3” 1.60m 5ft 8” 1.73m 6ft 1” 1.85m

4ft 11” 1.50m 5ft 4” 1.63m 5ft 9” 1.75m 6ft 2” 1.88m

5ft 0” 1.52m 5ft 5” 1.65m 5ft 10” 1.78m 6ft 3” 1.90m

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5ft 1” 1.55m 5ft 6” 1.68m 5ft 11” 1.80m 6ft 4” 1.93m
 CHECKLIST

10. Documents required if applying for a:

First Issue Discharge Book and/or British Seaman’s Card:
Item ✓/X
Application MSF4509 (specifically Parts A, B and/or C, D and/or E, and G). i.
x2 passport style photographs, per document applied for (see Note 5). ii.
Payment of the requisite fee. iii.
If seeking a BSC a copy of your UK passport, certified as a true copy of the iv.
original document will also be required (see Note 7).
Evidence of STCW personal safety and social responsibility training (PSSR) i.
A Seafarer employment agreement or equivalent terms and conditions of i.
employment

Continuation Issue Discharge Book and/or British Seaman’s Card:

Item ✓/X
Application MSF4509 (specifically Parts A, B and/or C, and G. If your last ii.
voyage is over 3 years or your BSC has expired over 3 years ago you will need
new Parts D and/or E. We reserve the right to request Part D/E for periods less
than 3 years.
x2 passport style photographs, per document applied for (see Note 5). iii.
Payment of the requisite fee. iv.
For a DB we require sight of your original existing book or copies of v.
photograph/information page and last page of entries demonstrating that
this is complete. For a BSC we require the original existing document for
cancellation. All original documents supplied will be returned to you

Replacement Issue Discharge Book and/or British Seaman’s Card:

Item ✓/X
Application MSF4509 (specifically Parts A, B and/or C, F and G. We reserve vi.
the right to request Part D/E for periods less than 3 years.
x2 passport style photographs, per document applied for (see Note 5) vii.
Payment of the requisite fee viii.
If your document(s) were stolen, please provide Police Incident numbers & ix.
enclose copies of any such reports
If you are seeking an alteration to your existing document(s) (e.g. if you x.
have changed your name), please return the original document with
relevant certified copies of the supporting documents (e.g. deed poll,
passport, marriage/divorce certificates or gender realignment certificate)
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