Deck Certificate Guide

Master Yachts Unlimited: the exact requirements

The top of the yacht deck ladder, launched on 18 May 2026 under STCW Regulation II/2. It allows command of yachts of any size, including above 3,000 GT, without cargo vessel sea time. Every requirement below comes from section 4.4 of MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2.

Updated July 2026 · Source: MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2, section 4.4

What the Master Yachts Unlimited CoC lets you do

The Master (Yachts) Unlimited Certificate of Competency, issued under STCW Regulation II/2, allows command of yachts of any size, including above 3,000 GT. It is one of the two new Yacht Unlimited certificates introduced in MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2, section 4, effective 18 May 2026, and removes the old requirement to build cargo vessel sea time to go beyond 3,000 GT. It is yacht-specific: it does not grant command on SOLAS cargo vessels.

Exact requirements

  1. Chief Mate baseline (s4.4(a)): hold or meet the requirements for the Chief Mate (Yachts) Unlimited CoC.
  2. Sea service (s4.4(b)), one of three routes:
    • While holding a Chief Mate Yachts Unlimited CoC or Chief Mate Unlimited CoC: a minimum of 12 months' onboard yacht service as Chief Mate, including at least 6 months of seagoing service, all onboard a yacht of at least 500 GT.
    • While holding a Master Yachts (less than 3,000 GT, II/2) CoC: a minimum of 6 months onboard yacht service as a Master, including at least 3 months of seagoing service, all onboard a vessel of at least 500 GT.
    • While holding an OOW Unlimited CoC: 36 months of onboard yacht service as an OOW, including at least 15 months of seagoing service, all on vessels of 15 metres or more in length, with the seagoing service performed on vessels of at least 500 GT.
  3. Ancillary certificates (s4.4(c)): the applicable ancillary certificates in section 6 of the notice. For the exact list, check the current notice on gov.uk.
  4. Medical (s4.4(d)): a valid ENG1.
  5. Oral examination (s4.4(e)): pass the Master Unlimited GT Yacht oral examination.

Oral exemption: holders of a Master Yachts (less than 3,000 GT, II/2) or Chief Mate Unlimited CoC are exempt from the Chief Mate Yacht Unlimited oral, but must pass the Master Unlimited GT Yacht oral.

"(a) Hold or meet the requirements for a Chief Mate (Yachts) Unlimited CoC. (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 · Read the full notice on gov.uk

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Related: Deck career overview · Yacht Rating Certificate · OOW Yachts (less than 3,000 GT) · Chief Mate Yachts (less than 3,000 GT) · Master Yachts (less than 500 GT) · Master Yachts (less than 3,000 GT) · Chief Mate Yachts Unlimited