MTCS Policies 2026

MTCS uses various policies. These policies are available throughout the site under the menu heading titled 'Policies'.

The following policies are relevant to users of MTCS Online

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MTCS GDPR: Evidence Verification & Communication Rights

Introduction

To ensure the safety-critical standards of offshore operations, MTCS holds an explicit right and expectation to communicate directly with Candidates, Assessors, Witnesses, and Expert Witnesses. This communication is essential to verify the authenticity, accuracy, and context of any submitted portfolio evidence before a Certificate of Competence is issued or revalidated.

Under the UK GDPR, this verification process is protected under the lawful bases of Legitimate Interests (ensuring workplace safety and industry standardisation) and Performance of a Contract (fulfilling the assessment criteria).

MTCS Competence Scheme – Evidence Verification & Communication Privacy Notice

To maintain the integrity, safety, and validity of qualifications issued under the MTCS Competence Scheme, MTCS retains the right, and is expected, to communicate directly with any Candidate, Approved Assessor, Witness, or Expert Witness involved in a competence course or portfolio submission.

Evidence Verification & Communication Rights

This communication is strictly for the purpose of verifying evidence, confirming supporting documentation, clarifying assessment decisions, and auditing workplace declarations.

1. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process personal data, professional credentials, communication logs, and statements under the following UK GDPR frameworks:

  • Legitimate Interests: Necessary to ensure offshore technical competence, verify critical safety standards, and prevent fraudulent certification within the marine and subsea industries.
  • Performance of a Contract: Required to assess, verify, and award the formal Certificate of Competence requested by the candidate or their employer.

2. Expectations and Rights by Role:

  • Candidates: By enrolling in an MTCS competence course or submitting a portfolio, you acknowledge that MTCS will contact your nominated Witnesses, Expert Witnesses, and Assessors to audit your evidence. Refusal to allow this verification will result in the immediate rejection of your portfolio.
  • Approved Witnesses & Expert Witnesses: When you sign off on an operational log, appraisal, or technical declaration, you do so as an industry authority. MTCS expects to be able to contact you to confirm you witnessed the tasks performed. Your professional identity and comments will be held securely as part of the candidate’s permanent verification trail.
  • Skills Assessors & Verifiers: Your evaluation notes, scores, and feedback loops with the candidate or witnesses are recorded to ensure robust quality management and standardisation.  MTCS expects to be able to contact you to discuss assessment decisions where applicable.

3. Data Handling & Confidentiality

All verification discussions, whether conducted verbally or via written correspondence, will be handled with strict professional confidentiality and stored securely within the MTCS Online auditing framework.

Because these records form part of a safety-critical audit trail, verification data will be retained for the life cycle of the certificate and its subsequent revalidation periods. This information may be disclosed to formal auditing bodies where required to prove systemic compliance.

Core Principles Specific to MTCS Verification
  • The Inclusion of Expert Witnesses: Unlike a standard workplace witness who simply observes a task, an Expert Witness provides a high-level technical endorsement of complex subsea or ROV operations. MTCS must be able to test the validity of their expert opinion to protect the scheme's integrity.
  • No Right to Object to Verification: Under GDPR, individuals have a "Right to Object" to data processing. However, because MTCS verification directly impacts offshore safety and contract fulfilment, the right to object does not apply to these specific verification checks. If a party refuses to communicate, the evidence becomes unverified and invalid.
  • Audit Trail Security: Every email, phone log note, or portal message exchanged during verification is tied to the candidate's unique MTCS portfolio number, creating an unalterable compliance log.

Please note: all dates/times shown within MTCS Online are based on London UK Time.

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