Written Question·Ministry of Defence·UIN 111107

Merchant Shipping: Crew

Tabled: 5 February 2026

Answered: 10 February 2026

Named Day

Question

Grahame Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of civilian seafarers in scope of the (a) Defence Maritime Regulator and (b) the Memorandum of Understanding between the MoD and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Answer

Louise Sandher-Jones

As of the 6 February 2026, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary had 1,741 employees, who are under the scope of the dual regulatory requirements of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Defence Maritime Regulator.