Yacht Deck Career Path: Deckhand to Captain

Entry level. STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 are the only statutory requirements to begin working as deck crew. Most captains also expect RYA Powerboat Level 2 on yachts that carry tenders, and an SRC VHF licence if you will operate marine radio. Day to day you report to the bosun or chief officer: wash-downs, detailing, line handling, tender driving, watersports and guest support, typically on vessels from 30m upward. From day one, every day of sea service counts toward the figures required for your OOW application.

The first formal MCA recognition of your deck service, sitting between green deckhand and the officer track. It certifies you as a trained rating able to form part of a navigational watch, and it is the point where properly recorded sea service starts paying off. Under MSN 1858 Amendment 2, Annex A is the Yacht Rating and Deck Hand seagoing service testimonial used to evidence this service.

"At least 6 months onboard Yacht service which includes at least 2 months of actual seagoing service" on vessels of at least 15 metres in load line length.

Yacht Rating certificate guidance (MSF 4340) · Read the full guidance on gov.uk

Full Yacht Rating Certificate requirements →

The most senior non-officer deck crew role, responsible for seamanship, maintenance and managing the deck team. You run the deckhands' day, plan the wash-down and maintenance schedule, own the tenders and toys, and answer directly to the chief officer. There is no MCA Certificate of Competency for Bosun, it is an industry seniority designation. PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties) is mandatory for all crew on vessels over 500 GT. The Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) certificate, if completed at this stage, satisfies the 18-month pre-CoC holding requirement for the OOW application later.

The first MCA Certificate of Competency, and the jump from working on deck to keeping a bridge watch: you become directly responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel on your watch, reporting to the chief officer and captain. The path to the OOW CoC runs: RYA Day Skipper theory, then RYA Coastal Skipper practical and theory, then either RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore exam. Per MSN 1858 Amendment 2 Section 3.3(b), both Yachtmaster Coastal (accompanied by a Coastal Skipper practical certificate) and Yachtmaster Offshore are accepted OOW prerequisites. You must also hold EDH for at least 18 months before your CoC application. Then: MCA SQA written examinations (navigation, stability) and an MCA oral examination.

"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 metres or over in load line length, made up of: a minimum of 250 days' seagoing service and 115 days of any combination of the following: seagoing service; stand-by service (a maximum of 14 consecutive days may be counted at one time); yard service, up to a maximum of 90 days continuously or in separate periods."

MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2, section 3.3(c) · Read the full notice on gov.uk

Full OOW Yachts (less than 3,000 GT) requirements → · Or the cadetship route to OOW Unlimited →

The captain's deputy: you run the deck department, own the vessel's safety and maintenance planning, and take full navigational responsibility when the captain is off the bridge. No additional sea time is required beyond holding the OOW CoC, Chief Mate is qualification-gated, not sea-time-gated (per MSN 1858 A2 §3.4). The key additional requirement is RYA Yachtmaster Ocean (theory and practical). Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) and Medical First Aid (MEFA) are required at Chief Mate level for the first time, they are not required at OOW level. The nine academic modules sometimes quoted at this stage are a Chief Mate Yacht Unlimited requirement, a separate, higher-tier certificate, not part of Chief Mate (Yachts under 3,000 GT).

Full Chief Mate Yachts (less than 3,000 GT) requirements →

Command of commercial yachts up to 500 GT, typically vessels in the 24m to 50m range. You carry ultimate responsibility for the vessel, crew, guests and regulatory compliance, and you answer to the owner or management company rather than another officer. This is often the first command qualification sought by officers working on smaller superyachts.

"While serving as a OOW Yachts, less than 3000 GT, II/1, have completed a minimum of 12 months' onboard yacht service as a deck officer, including at least 120 days watchkeeping service, on vessels of 15 metres or over in load line length"

MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2, section 3.5(b) · Read the full notice on gov.uk

Full Master Yachts (less than 500 GT) requirements →

Command of commercial yachts up to 3,000 GT, covering the vast majority of the superyacht fleet, typically 50m to 90m plus. The job is as much management as seamanship: budgets, crew of 10 to 30, charter and flag-state compliance, shipyard periods and owner relations sit alongside navigation. This is the primary target qualification for most career yacht officers.

"While serving as a OOW yachts, less than 3000 GT, II/1, have completed a minimum of 24 months' onboard yacht service as a Deck Officer, including at least 240 days watchkeeping service. All of this service must be completed on vessels of 15 metres or over in load line length and include; 12 months on vessels of 24 metres or over in load line length, or 6 months on vessels of 500 GT or more"

MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2, section 3.6(a) · Read the full notice on gov.uk

Full Master Yachts (less than 3,000 GT) requirements →

The MCA launched the Yacht Unlimited CoC on 18 May 2026 (MSN 1858 A2 Section 4). It allows command of yachts of any size, including above 3,000 GT, without requiring cargo vessel sea time. This does not grant unlimited status on cargo or other SOLAS vessel types.

Step 1, Chief Mate Yachts Unlimited (s4.3): hold either a Master Yachts under 3,000 GT CoC, or an OOW Unlimited CoC with 12 months onboard yacht service as OOW (at least 6 months seagoing, all on a yacht of 500 GT or more) plus NAEST(M). Then complete nine academic modules at an MCA-approved nautical college: Applied Marine Meteorology, Management Level Passage Planning, Management of Bridge Operations, Management of Yacht Operations, Marine Engineering Systems, Marine Vessels (Structures and Maintenance), Ship Stability, Shipboard Management, and Shipmaster's Law and Business. Pass the MCA assessments in Chief Mate Navigation and Stability (Yacht Unlimited), hold a valid ENG1, and pass the MCA oral exam. Holders of an MCA-approved management-level qualification (Honours Degree, Foundation Degree, HND or equivalent) are exempt from the nine modules.

"(b) Complete either: While holding a Chief Mate Yachts Unlimited CoC or Chief Mate Unlimited CoC, have completed a minimum of 12 months' onboard yacht service as Chief Mate, which includes at least 6 months of seagoing service. All service must be onboard a yacht of at least 500 GT. [Or] While holding a Master Yachts, less than 3000 GT, II/2, CoC, you must have completed a minimum of 6 months onboard yacht service as a Master, which includes at least 3 months of seagoing service. All this service must have been onboard a vessel of at least 500 GT. [Or] While holding an Officer of the Watch (OOW) Unlimited Certificate of Competency (CoC), you must have completed 36 months of onboard yacht service as an OOW, including at least 15 months of seagoing service. All service must be completed on vessels of 15 metres or more in length, with the seagoing service performed on vessels of at least 500 gross tonnage (GT)."

MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2, section 4.4, Master Yachts Unlimited requirements · Read the full notice on gov.uk

Step 2, Master Yachts Unlimited (s4.4): hold or meet the Chief Mate Yachts Unlimited requirements, complete one of the three sea-service options quoted above, hold the section 6 ancillary certificates and a valid ENG1, then pass the Master Unlimited GT Yacht oral examination. Holders of a Master Yachts under 3,000 GT or Chief Mate Unlimited CoC skip the Chief Mate Yacht Unlimited oral but still sit the Master Unlimited GT Yacht oral.

Full Master Yachts Unlimited requirements → · Full Chief Mate Yachts Unlimited requirements →