Minimum requirements to work on a yacht

Whether you're embarking on your initial venture into the maritime sector or aiming to advance in your yachting journey, possessing all the crew qualifications is vital. These certifications ensure crew members are equipped with the crucial skills necessary during sea emergencies. Navigating through the myriad of yachting qualifications for specific roles onboard a superyacht can be overwhelming. To assist with this, we've curated a comprehensive list of qualifications and specialized courses, offering clarity on the essential superyacht crew training required for various yacht positions.

1. STCW BASIC SAFETY TRAINING 
1. STCW Basic Safety Training is a mandatory qualification for all crew hoping to work on a commercial or charter yacht larger than 24 meters(78 feet).  
2. ENG1 (Seafarer Medical Certificate)
   

• The ENG1 is a UK medical examination, performed by an MCA approved Doctor to ensure that anyone employed or engaged in activities on any sea-going ships meets a minimum standard of health. Most crew on UK registered yachts are required to hold the certificate.

• It's also important to ensure that your certificates are issued in English and that the course is certified either by MCA or the national maritime organisation of the country where you take your course.

• ENG1 is valid for two years so you will have to make sure to renew it regularly before it expires. Always keep an eye on your expiry dates because, as a yacht crew, you might find yourself in the middle of the season with no way of renewing it instantly.

• You can continue to work for a limited amount of time if your medical certificate expires during a voyage.

• You can work until the next port of call where you’re able to replace your certificate or for up to 3 months from the date your certificate expires, whichever is sooner.

For deckhands it is not mandatory to have boating qualifications but having them is an asset. General seafaring skills are expected. Deckhands should ideally have some knowledge and experience of navigation, boat handling, engines and radio equipment. Any skills or experience in any of the above mentioned tasks would be a distinct advantage. 

• STCW Basic Safety Training 
• ENG1

• VHF Radio
• RYA Radar
• RYA Competent Crew
• MCA Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• RYA Tender Operator or IYT tender driving license
• PWC Personal Watercraft Proficiency
• General GRP and carpentry repairs

A steward or stewardess’s main job is to look after the guests and the interior of the yacht. In most cases, there will be a chief stew who will lead a number of assistant and junior stews – a great entry-level pathway into the industry.

•  STCW Basic Safety Training qualification
•  ENG1 Medical Certificate

• Superyacht Interior Certificate
• CIEH Food Safety Level 2 ( online course is not accepted on yachts )
• MCA Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• RYA Personal Watercraft Course (PWC)
• RYA VHF Radio
• Barista training, wine appreciation and mixology

Food Safety and Hygiene: A Level 2 certification is often required to ensure you can safely handle and prepare food.

Silver Service & Interior Training: Specialized training that teaches the high standards of personal service expected on luxury yachts.

The cook position onboard a yacht is ideal for someone that loves to be in the galley and has a great “can-do” attitude. The successful candidate will be able to multi-task effectively, provision independently, work long hours as needed and provide fantastic meals in a galley that often is limited in space and storage. The cook must also be willing to assist other departments when called upon, as this role is usually found on smaller vessels where cross-department teamwork is essential to the successful operation of the yacht. This position requires the ability to cook well, but does not necessitate significant superyacht experience as an entry level position. Candidates may have little to no yacht experience.

• STCW Basic Safety Training qualification
• ENG1 Medical Certificate.

• Level 2 Hygiene Certificate 

For chefs seeking work on yachts you are required to have the minimum of a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate that has been awarded via an invigilated examination. Please note that online certificates are not accepted. In 2006 the MLC (Maritime Labor Convention) proposed legislation mandating the certification of all chefs, food handlers and interior crew. The official legislation states:

Those with responsibility for catering should be properly trained or instructed for their

positions and have an adequate knowledge of food and personal hygiene to ensure that

food is stored, stock rotated, handled, cooked and served safely and that good practice is

clearly applied. Ships’ Cooks and other equivalent qualifications will include food hygiene training.

Periodic assessments of the effectiveness of training or instructions should be made.

Company and ship audits should be able to verify competency levels. If there is any

evidence of poor hygiene practices, designated cooks or others working in the galley

should receive refresher training or other appropriate food hygiene training.

Catering staff should have an awareness of the potential problems associated with food

allergy and intolerance and have a basic understanding of how to avoid cross

contamination and of the importance of providing accurate information to the crew.

The Chief Officer has a thorough understanding of the bridge and navigation systems, knowledge of all safety procedures onboard as well as the ability to teach and train the deck crew.

• STCW Basic Safety Training qualification
• ENG1 Medical Certificate.
• ECDIS
• GMDSS (COC)
• HELM (Operational) (Yacht<3000 GT) 
• RYA Yachtmaster certificate Offshore or MOY coastal (>24m <200GT) 
• MCA-approved Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) certificate3
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certificate and a certificate of successful completion of a
• shore-based Yachtmaster Ocean course. < 3000 GT, or an IYT Master of Yachts Unlimited.
• OOW yachts, < 3000 GT CoC

The crucial part of any yacht engineer job description is maintaining the mechanical and electrical operations of the yacht. From day to day this can incorporate mammoth tasks, such as fixing a faulty engine, and smaller assignments, such as adjusting a speaker in the media room. For large yachts, this role requires more than ten years of experience and a license of MCA level Y1 - Y2. The Chief Engineer is also the trainer and the manager of the engineers on board, consequently, he/she should have very good managerial skills.

• Ensuring safety of operation of the engine room
• Planning repairs and inspection of the engine
• Managing and training onboard engineers
• Inventory of engineering tools

• Extensive technical experience
• Advanced knowledge of all onboard systems of the yacht
• Excellent ability to plan maintenance
• Self-reliance and self-discipline
• Multitasking and versatile
• Ability to delegate his/her functions and train engineers onboard
• Accounting of expenses and procurements for maintenance of engines
• Knowledge of suppliers in the event of a breakdown

• STCW Basic Safety Training qualification
• ENG1 Medical Certificate.
• Marine Engineer Operator Licence Limited to Small Vessels (MEOL SV)
• Approved Engine Course (AEC) 1 and 2 Certificate of Completion.
• HELM(Management)
• Chief Engineer Reg III/3 CoC (Y4)
• Chief Engineer Reg III/3 CoC (Chief Engineer "Service Endorsement") (Y3)
• Chief Engineer Reg III/2 CoC (Y2)
• Chief Engineer Reg III/2 CoC ("Large Yacht Endorsement") (Y1)
• Marine Diesel Engineering Certificate
• Auxiliary Equipment Certificate
• Operational Procedures, Basic Hotel Services and Ship Construction Certificate

The Yacht Captain is the navigator, and as such is responsible for the safety of the crew and passengers, the supervision of the crew as well as ensuring the enjoyment of all guests onboard. To become a captain requires years of experience and training, and a broad set of skills including yacht operations, personnel management, budgeting and finance. The captain works directly with the owner and owner’s representative, if the captain is not also acting as the representative.

Responsible for all navigation and running the yacht.

Senior decision maker on all crew hiring.

Manage repairs, refits, and yard work.

Manage budgets and accounting. On larger yachts, this task ends more on the Purser, but the captain is always responsible.

Ensure all paperwork, clearances, and legal requirements are completed.

Primary contact with the owner or charter parties.

• STCW Basic Safety Training
• Master (code vessels) <200gt CoC
• Master (Yachts) <500gt CoC
• Master (Yachts) <3000gt CoC
• RYA Yachmaster Ocean certiifate or IYT Master of Yachts Unlimited Certificate

• To qualify for the issue of this Certificate of Competency you must meet the following requirements:
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Have completed 6 months’ seagoing service while holding an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or IYT Master of Yachts Limited certificate;
•  RYA Yachtmaster offshore certificate and a certificate of successful completion of a shore-based Yachtmaster Offshore course*; or IYT Master of Yachts Limited;
• Pass the MCA Master (code vessels less than 200 GT) oral examination
• Hold the applicable ancillary course certificates
• Hold a valid ENG1 (medical fitness certificate) or accepted equivalent; and
• Pass the MCA Master (code vessels less than 200 GT) oral examination

• Be at least 19 years of age
• RYA Yachtmaster certificate Offshore and a certificate of successful completion of a shore-based Yachtmaster Offshore course or
•  IYT Master of Yachts Limited certificate
• Since the age of 16 have obtained a minimum of 36 months’ onboard yacht service. This must include at least 365 days seagoing service on vessels of 15 meters or over in load line length, made up of:
• A minimum of 250 days’ ACTUAL sea going service 

 

• Actual seaservice
•  Stand-by service - A maximum of 14 consecutive days may be counted at one time, but on no occasion may a period of standby service exceed that of the previous voyage
•  Yard service - up to a maximum of 90 days continuously or in separate periods;
• Hold an MCA-approved Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) certificate
• Hold the applicable ancillary course certificates
• Successful completion of the MCA-approved ‘Navigation and Radar (OOW yachts)’ training module and passing the corresponding IAMI written examination
• Successful completion of the MCA-approved ‘General Ship Knowledge (OOW yachts)’ training module and passing the corresponding IAMI written examination;
• Completion of Yacht Training Record Book (Not required if the candidate can provide evidence of 36 months’ onboard yacht service in vessels of at least 24 meters in load line length)
• Hold a valid ENG1 (medical fitness certificate) or accepted equivalent
• Pass the OOW (yachts less than 3000 GT) oral examination