From deckhand to captain: yacht licences from Yachtmaster to Master 3000
The UK yacht deck licences step by step, from Yachtmaster Offshore to Master Yachts 3000 GT, with sea time, ages, modules and validity.
The path from deckhand to captain of a large yacht runs through four UK certificates of competency: Officer of the Watch, Chief Mate, Master under 500 GT and Master under 3000 GT. The usual starting point is the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore. Getting to Officer of the Watch alone takes at least 36 months on yachts, and each step after that adds sea time as an officer, MCA modules and an oral exam.
The rules below come from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency's MSN 1858 Amendment 2, in force since 18 May 2026, which covers captains and deck officers on UK-registered yachts of 24 metres and more and under 3000 GT, private or commercial, carrying no cargo and no more than 12 passengers (MCA, MSN 1858).
Where do you start: Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean?
The RYA Yachtmaster certificates are the entry point.
| Yachtmaster Offshore | Yachtmaster Ocean | |
|---|---|---|
| Allows you to skipper | a yacht up to 150 nautical miles from a safe haven, day and night | vessels up to 200 GT on passages of any length, worldwide |
| Experience before the exam | at least 50 days at sea in the last 10 years (5 as skipper), 2,500 nautical miles, 5 passages over 60 nm (2 overnight, 2 as skipper) | a qualifying passage of at least 600 nm, of which 200 nm more than 50 nm offshore, at least 96 hours, plus celestial navigation |
| Other | minimum age 18; VHF radio certificate (at least Short Range) and first aid certificate | oral and written exam; the written part is waived with the Ocean theory course |
| Source | RYA | RYA |
Both can be recognised under STCW; to work on UK small commercial vessels you also need a commercial endorsement (RYA).
What are the steps after Yachtmaster?
All from MSN 1858 Amendment 2, sections 2 to 4.
1. Master (Code Vessels under 200 GT) / Officer of the Watch under 500 GT From age 18, with six months of sea time as a holder of the Yachtmaster Offshore, the Yachtmaster Offshore theory course, additional courses, an ENG1 and an MCA oral exam. Limited to 150 nm from a safe haven unless you hold a GMDSS certificate and the Yachtmaster Ocean.
2. Officer of the Watch (Yachts under 3000 GT)
- Minimum age 19; entry for example with Yachtmaster Offshore plus theory course.
- At least 36 months on yachts since your 16th birthday, including at least 365 days on vessels of 15 metres or more, of which at least 250 days at sea. Standby time counts for at most 14 days at a time, yard time for at most 90 days.
- An Efficient Deck Hand certificate issued at least 18 months before the licence.
- The MCA modules "Navigation and Radar" and "General Ship Knowledge" with exams, a training record book, an ENG1 and an oral exam.
3. Chief Mate (Yachts under 3000 GT) OOW plus the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean with theory course, additional courses and an ENG1. You can apply for it together with the OOW.
4. Master (Yachts under 500 GT) At least 12 months as a deck officer while holding the OOW, including at least 120 days of watchkeeping, on vessels of 15 metres or more, plus the MCA modules Seamanship and Meteorology, Stability, Business and Law, a navigation and radar simulator course, and the celestial navigation exam.
5. Master (Yachts under 3000 GT) At least 24 months as a deck officer while holding the OOW, including at least 240 days of watchkeeping, of which 12 months on vessels of 24 metres or more or 6 months on vessels of 500 GT or more, plus the Master under 500 GT (or all its modules) and an oral exam.
New in 2026: MSN 1858 Amendment 2 adds Chief Mate Yachts Unlimited and Master Yachts Unlimited for officers moving towards larger yachts. Chief Mate Unlimited requires, among other things, nine higher education modules at an approved college.
What else should you know?
From MSN 1858 Amendment 2:
- A day counts as a full day of service if you worked at least 4 hours in 24.
- At least 6 months of your qualifying sea time must fall within the 5 years before you apply.
- Sea time on vessels under any flag is accepted.
- Passed modules are valid for 3 years; celestial navigation for only 1 year. A failed module exam can be retaken without repeating the course within 12 months.
- A passed oral exam is valid for 3 years; the notice of eligibility for 5 years.
- The certificate of competency is issued for 5 years.
- ECDIS training is required for OOW, Chief Mate and Master.
- For the STCW basic modules, certificates from all White List countries are accepted.
The application fee for a notice of eligibility for a yacht deck certificate is £220 including courier (MCA form MSF 4343).
Sources
UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MSN 1858 Amendment 2, form MSF 4343) and the Royal Yachting Association (Yachtmaster Offshore, Yachtmaster Ocean, commercial endorsements). All checked on 4 October 2026 and linked above.
Sources and image rights
- Images
- Toys & Crew
- Checked
- 4 October 2026 by Andreas Lakeberg
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