Qualifications required to work on board a yacht

All crew, regardless of their position on board, need to have completed the STCW Basic Safety Training along with obtaining a recognised Seafarers medical certificate, the most popular being the ENG1, which is issued by an MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) professional medic.

 

Without these two certificates, a yacht crew recruitment agent cannot assist you in finding work onboard a yacht.

STCW is a one-week-long course that provides students with an important introduction to working at sea and the necessary safety knowledge.

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STCW stands for ‘Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping’ and is required for all crew who are working onboard commercial ships or superyachts.

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The course teaches the basics of staying safe at sea, and it comprises 5 modules:

• Personal Survival Techniques

• Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention

• Elementary First Aid

• Personal Safety and Social Responsibility

• Proficiency in Security Awareness

 

The STCW certification is valid for 5 years from completion of the course, and after that, you are required to take an STCW Refresher Course in Fire Fighting and Sea Survival. So, before looking for work onboard a yacht, you must make sure all your certifications are up to date.

 

The good news is that there are training centres all around the world where you can complete the STCW course and obtain your certification. Research online to find the nearest centre to you and get started. The course takes 5 days to complete, so make sure you have accommodation nearby.

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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.

A Seafarers Medical Certificate confirms that you are medically fit to work at sea. It assesses hearing, sight and colour vision and ensures that you are not affected by a medical condition that could be aggravated by service at sea or pose a risk to others onboard.

 

The most common certificate for yacht crew is the ENG1, issued by an MCA-approved doctor, although equivalent certificates recognised by a yacht’s flag state may be accepted.

 

A medical certificate is normally valid for up to two years, or one year if you are under 18 (YPI CREW does not place crew under the age of 18 because work onboard yachts frequently involves night duties, and seafarers under 18 are not permitted to undertake night work under maritime regulations).

 

Colour-vision certification may be valid for up to six years.

 

It’s important to monitor expiry dates, as renewing during the busy season or while travelling can be difficult.

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If your medical certificate expires during a voyage, it may remain valid for up to three months until you can renew it at the next port. In urgent cases, a seafarer may be permitted to work without a valid medical certificate for a short period, provided they hold an expired certificate of recent date, but this should not be relied upon.

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YPI CREW verifies that candidates hold a valid medical certificate and records the expiry date. The certificate must, as a minimum, be provided in English.

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• See the list of MCA-approved doctors in the UK. 

• See the list of MCA-approved doctors outside the UK.

• See the list of countries whose seafarer medical fitness certificates are accepted as equivalent to the UK ENG1.

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Watch our very own Fiona Murray, Head of the Bosun and Deckhand Department, discuss the topic in depth with ENG1-certified Dr Gordon here.