How to become yacht crew.

Start here: the two certificates you need first

Before anything else — before agencies, before dock walking, before even thinking about what role you want — you need two things:

1. STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) — the international standard for crew safety training. Four days, covers fire, first aid, survival and personal safety. Valid for five years.
2. ENG1 seafarer medical certificate — confirms you are medically fit to work at sea. Issued by an MCA-approved doctor. Valid for two years (one year if you are over 65 or have certain conditions).

Without these two, most captains won't take you seriously and most crew agencies won't register you. Get them done first — everything else builds on top.

What is STCW and why do you need it?

STCW stands for the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers — an international convention enforced by flag states that sets minimum safety requirements for anyone working professionally at sea.

STCW Basic Safety Training is made up of four elements:

• Personal survival techniques (PST) — abandoning ship, survival craft, lifebuoys
• Fire prevention and firefighting (FPFF) — using extinguishers and breathing apparatus
• Elementary first aid (EFA) — CPR, treating injuries and shock
• Personal safety and social responsibilities (PSSR) — teamwork, watch-keeping, emergency procedures

Most providers run these as a single four-day course. In the UK, reputable providers include Sea Safety Training, The Warsash Maritime Academy, and various RYA-recognised centres. Course costs typically range from £350–£600.

Your STCW BST certificate is valid for five years. After that you must complete a refresher course before your expiry date — if it lapses, you cannot legally work until you renew.

Getting your ENG1 medical

The ENG1 is a seafarer medical examination carried out by an MCA-approved doctor. It checks your vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, and general fitness for sea service.

You can find an approved doctor on the MCA website. The exam typically takes 30–60 minutes and costs around £100–£175. Most doctors can book you within a few days.

Your ENG1 is valid for two years (one year if you are over 65 or have a condition the doctor notes on the certificate). Keep a digital copy ready to share at any time — captains and agents will ask for it.

Other certificates worth getting early

Once you have your STCW and ENG1, the following are the next most useful to add:

• Powerboat Level 2 (RYA) — required for deck crew who drive tenders. Very common requirement. Two-day course.
• PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties) — required for crew on commercial yachts over 500GT. Does not expire.
• VHF/SRC radio licence — required if you operate marine VHF radio. Short online course plus a practical exam.
• STCW Certificate in Crowd Management — required for crew on larger passenger vessels. One-day course.

For interior and stewardess roles, a food and beverage service certificate and knowledge of fine dining, cocktail preparation and silver service are very useful alongside the above.

Registering with crew agencies

Crew agencies exist specifically to place crew with captains and yacht management companies. Registering with several is free and important — but your profile is only as strong as your paperwork.

Well-known agencies used for both green crew and experienced positions include:

• Bluewater
• YPI Crew
• Crew Network
• Luxury Yacht Group
• EYOS Expeditions (for expedition yachts)

When you register, you will need a professional CV (typically one page, maritime format), a headshot, and your certificates either uploaded to their system or ready to email. Agencies often ask for a PDF folder of your certificates — YachtSync lets you generate and share this in a single tap.

Dock walking: how to find work on the dock

Dock walking — visiting marinas and approaching captains and crew directly — is still one of the most effective ways to find your first yacht job. It is uncomfortable at first but it works.

Where to dock walk

The three main hubs for dock walking are:

• Antibes (Port Vauban), France — the largest superyacht marina in the world. April to June before the summer season. The majority of Mediterranean yacht crew find their first job here.
• Palma de Mallorca, Spain — particularly around the Palma Superyacht Show (late April/early May). A large concentration of yachts wintering or preparing for the season.
• Fort Lauderdale, USA — the main hub for the Caribbean and US East Coast season. Busiest in October–November before yachts head south.

How to dock walk effectively

• Dress smartly — navy, white or smart casual. You are presenting yourself as professional crew.
• Carry printed CVs. Captains and chief officers expect to take one away.
• Have your certificates on your phone and ready to share digitally — some captains will want to see them immediately.
• Ask to speak to the captain or first officer. If no one is around, leave a CV with a note.
• Ask for day work first — one day helping with maintenance or provisioning is how most crew get their foot in the door.
• Follow up. Many captains find crew through persistence as much as luck.

Writing a yacht crew CV

A maritime CV is different from a standard employment CV. Keep it to one page. The format most captains and agencies expect:

1. Photo (professional headshot — smart, plain background, smiling)
2. Personal details — name, nationality, date of birth, location, phone, email
3. Position sought — e.g. "Deckhand / Green Crew"
4. Certificates — STCW, ENG1, Powerboat L2, VHF/SRC etc. with issue and expiry dates
5. Experience — any relevant work (watersports, hospitality, construction, maritime) in reverse chronological order. If you have no yachting experience yet, include day work.
6. Skills and languages

Keep the file name professional: Surname_FirstName_CV_2026.pdf. YachtSync can automatically rename your certificates to the same format when you set up your naming convention.

What to expect from your first season

Your first season will almost certainly be day work or a temporary position — not a full-time contract. That is completely normal. The goal of the first season is to:

• Get a reference from a captain
• Learn the reality of life and work on board
• Build your network of crew, captains and officers
• Confirm which role and yacht type suits you
• Start your logbook (required if you want to progress towards Yachtmaster)

Most green crew who persist find a day work position within two to four weeks of dock walking seriously. A full seasonal contract typically follows in the year after once you have a reference.

Keeping your certificates organised from day one

The single biggest mistake green crew make is treating their certificates as an afterthought. Captains and agents expect your paperwork to be current, correctly named and ready to share instantly. If you have to spend an hour hunting for a scan of your ENG1 or you discover it expired two months ago, you lose the opportunity.

YachtSync was built by crew who have seen this happen repeatedly. Download it free, add your certificates the moment you get them, and you will always be ready.

See also: What is STCW? A complete guide for green crew →