DECK DEPARTMENT
Yachtmaster Coastal
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation (Deck)
STCW Reg. II/3 (Master <500 GT Near Coastal) — Entry level .
STCW Basic Safety (VI/1)
Mandatory: Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities .
STCW Advanced (VI/2–VI/6)
Not required for this grade, but required for commercial employment.
STCW Regulation (Deck)
STCW Reg. II/3 (Master <500 GT Near Coastal) — Entry level .
STCW Basic Safety (VI/1)
Mandatory: Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities .
STCW Advanced (VI/2–VI/6)
Not required for this grade, but required for commercial employment.
Taking the helm and commanding a ship is one of the most responsible professions in the world. It demands courage. Chart your own course across the open sea.
Step up. Take command. Become the captain.
Step up. Take command. Become the captain.
Role
First professional level. Commercial skipper on vessels up to 24m, within 20 miles of a safe haven.
Mandatory Certs
Yachtmaster Coastal CoC; ENG1 Medical; GMDSS SRC; First Aid.
Sea Time
30 days at sea (last 10 yrs), 800 miles, 12 night hours, 2 days as skipper.
Exams
Practical Exam (boat handling, navigation, safety).
First professional level. Commercial skipper on vessels up to 24m, within 20 miles of a safe haven.
Mandatory Certs
Yachtmaster Coastal CoC; ENG1 Medical; GMDSS SRC; First Aid.
Sea Time
30 days at sea (last 10 yrs), 800 miles, 12 night hours, 2 days as skipper.
Exams
Practical Exam (boat handling, navigation, safety).
Yachtmaster Offshore
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation (Deck)
STCW Reg. II/3 (Master <500 GT Near Coastal) — Professional level .
STCW Basic Safety (VI/1)
Mandatory: BST (4 modules) .
STCW Advanced (VI/2–VI/6)
Required for employment: Advanced Fire Fighting (VI/3), Proficiency in Survival Craft (VI/2), Medical First Aid (VI/4), Designated Security Duties (VI/6) .
Role
Industry standard skipper. Commercial operation up to 24m, up to 150 miles from safe haven.
Mandatory Certs
Yachtmaster Offshore CoC; ENG1 Medical; GMDSS SRC; First Aid; PPR test.
Sea Time
50 days at sea, 2500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles.
Exams
Practical Exam (rigorous). May include Oral Exam.
Industry standard skipper. Commercial operation up to 24m, up to 150 miles from safe haven.
Mandatory Certs
Yachtmaster Offshore CoC; ENG1 Medical; GMDSS SRC; First Aid; PPR test.
Sea Time
50 days at sea, 2500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles.
Exams
Practical Exam (rigorous). May include Oral Exam.
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation (Deck)
STCW Reg. II/2 or II/3 (depending on vessel tonnage) — Advanced navigation endorsement .
STCW Requirements
Same as Offshore. Must hold valid STCW Advanced certificates to serve commercially.
Yachtmaster Ocean
Role
Advanced offshore passage making. Removes distance limitations. Pathway to Master 200gt.
Mandatory Certs
Must hold Yachtmaster Offshore or Master of Yachts Unlimited; ENG1.
Sea Time
6 months on commercial yachts after obtaining Ocean certificate.
Exams
Written Exam (Celestial Navigation); Oral Exam .
Advanced offshore passage making. Removes distance limitations. Pathway to Master 200gt.
Mandatory Certs
Must hold Yachtmaster Offshore or Master of Yachts Unlimited; ENG1.
Sea Time
6 months on commercial yachts after obtaining Ocean certificate.
Exams
Written Exam (Celestial Navigation); Oral Exam .
Powerboat Level 2
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation
Not applicable — this is an national certificate, not an STCW course.
Pre-requisites
None. Minimum age 16.
Role
Entry level. The industry-standard base certificate. Required to take the helm of any tender or powerboat. Without it, you will not be permitted to drive a tender.
Course Length
2 days.
Key Skills
Low-speed handling, mooring, close-quarters manoeuvring, basic navigation, man overboard (MOB) recovery, collision regulations (COLREGs), planning and displacement handling.
Exam
Practical, continuous assessment by instructor. No written exam.
Certificate
Powerboat Level 2 Certificate.
Role / Роль
Entry level. The industry-standard base certificate. Required to take the helm of any tender or powerboat. Without it, you will not be permitted to drive a tender.
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation
Not applicable — this is an national certificate, not an STCW course.
Pre-requisites
None. Minimum age 16.
Role
Entry level. The industry-standard base certificate. Required to take the helm of any tender or powerboat. Without it, you will not be permitted to drive a tender.
Course Length
2 days.
Key Skills
Low-speed handling, mooring, close-quarters manoeuvring, basic navigation, man overboard (MOB) recovery, collision regulations (COLREGs), planning and displacement handling.
Exam
Practical, continuous assessment by instructor. No written exam.
Certificate
Powerboat Level 2 Certificate.
Role / Роль
Entry level. The industry-standard base certificate. Required to take the helm of any tender or powerboat. Without it, you will not be permitted to drive a tender.
Tender Operator
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation
Not applicable — specialist certificate. Builds on Powerboat Level 2.
Pre-requisites
Powerboat Level 2 (or equivalent). Strongly recommended: First Aid and VHF/SRC. Minimum age 17.
Role
Specialist level. The "trump card" for superyacht employment. Designed specifically for yachting, focusing on what Level 2 does not cover: short-handed operation, guest comfort and safety, and day/night pilotage.
Course Length
2 days, including a compulsory night passage.
Key Skills
Night operations, passenger management (safe boarding/landing, guest comfort, briefing), superyacht-specific procedures (approaching the mother vessel, crane/davit awareness), advanced manoeuvring (stern-to, beach landings, towing), operation in confined waters.
Exam
Practical, continuous assessment. No formal written exam, but competency in handling and safety must be demonstrated.
Certificate
Tender Operator Certificate.
Role / Роль
Specialist level. The "trump card" for superyacht employment. Designed specifically for yachting, focusing on what Level 2 does not cover: short-handed operation, guest comfort and safety, and day/night pilotage.
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation
Not applicable — specialist certificate. Builds on Powerboat Level 2.
Pre-requisites
Powerboat Level 2 (or equivalent). Strongly recommended: First Aid and VHF/SRC. Minimum age 17.
Role
Specialist level. The "trump card" for superyacht employment. Designed specifically for yachting, focusing on what Level 2 does not cover: short-handed operation, guest comfort and safety, and day/night pilotage.
Course Length
2 days, including a compulsory night passage.
Key Skills
Night operations, passenger management (safe boarding/landing, guest comfort, briefing), superyacht-specific procedures (approaching the mother vessel, crane/davit awareness), advanced manoeuvring (stern-to, beach landings, towing), operation in confined waters.
Exam
Practical, continuous assessment. No formal written exam, but competency in handling and safety must be demonstrated.
Certificate
Tender Operator Certificate.
Role / Роль
Specialist level. The "trump card" for superyacht employment. Designed specifically for yachting, focusing on what Level 2 does not cover: short-handed operation, guest comfort and safety, and day/night pilotage.
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation (Deck)
STCW Reg. II/2 (Master <500 GT) or II/3 — Full
Management Level .
STCW Basic Safety (VI/1)
Valid BST required.
STCW Advanced (VI/2–VI/6)
Mandatory for CoC:
• STCW Advanced Fire Fighting (VI/3)
• STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft (VI/2) – Lifeboatman
• STCW Medical First Aid (VI/4) (or Medical Care)
• STCW Designated Security Duties (VI/6) .
Master of Yachts 200gt
Role
First Master level. Command of vessels up to 200 Gross Tons (24-40m) .
Mandatory Certs
Master <200gt CoC; ENG1; HELM Management; GMDSS ROC.
Sea Time
From YM Offshore: 6 months on commercial yachts.
Exams
Oral Exam (rigorous command-level test).
First Master level. Command of vessels up to 200 Gross Tons (24-40m) .
Mandatory Certs
Master <200gt CoC; ENG1; HELM Management; GMDSS ROC.
Sea Time
From YM Offshore: 6 months on commercial yachts.
Exams
Oral Exam (rigorous command-level test).
AspectRequirement
STCW Regulation (Deck)
STCW Reg. II/2 (Master 500–3000 GT) — Full Management Level .
STCW Basic Safety (VI/1)
Valid BST required.
STCW Advanced (VI/2–VI/6)
Mandatory for CoC:
• Advanced Fire Fighting (VI/3)
• Proficiency in Survival Craft (VI/2)
• Medical Care (VI/4) (higher level than First Aid)
• Designated Security Duties (VI/6) .
Master of Yachts 500gt
Role
Senior command for yachts up to 500 Gross Tons (40-60m). Requires written modules .
Mandatory Modules
Written Modules: Seamanship & Met; Business & Law; Stability; Nav/Radar/ARPA .
Sea Time
Typically requires holding OOW or Master 200gt with significant seatime.
Exams
Written Exams (multiple modules); Oral Exam.
Senior command for yachts up to 500 Gross Tons (40-60m). Requires written modules .
Mandatory Modules
Written Modules: Seamanship & Met; Business & Law; Stability; Nav/Radar/ARPA .
Sea Time
Typically requires holding OOW or Master 200gt with significant seatime.
Exams
Written Exams (multiple modules); Oral Exam.
