ENGLISH CERTIFICATES

Large Commercial Yacht Code 19 MAI 2004
Yacht Manning Qualifications
The general outline until 1 August 2003
The different types of certificates
Exam Tips
Transitional Arrangements
MCA, STCW, USCG, GMDSS, SOLAS, MARPOL, IMO, GT...

YACHT MANNING QUALIFICATIONS

Monday, October 29, 2001

The transitional period for the implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
for Seafarers 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW 95) ends on 31st January 2002.
From 1st February 2002, all UK Certificates of Competency and Certificates of Equivalent Competency must be issued in accordance
with STCW 95.
All certificates issued in accordance with the previous Convention, STCW 78, will cease to be valid for sea service on 1st February 2002
and must be revalidated in accordance with STCW 95 for service at sea. STCW 78 certificates that have been revalidated to STCW 95
will retain exactly the same limitations as granted under STCW 78.
Deck Officers
Under STCW 78, MCA introduced the two qualifications for Deck Officers:
Class 4 (With Command Endorsement) (Limited to Yachts & Sail Training Vessels); and
Class 5 (With Command Endorsement) (Limited to Yachts & Sail Training Vessels).
Under STCW 95, the qualifications, limited to Yachts & Sail Training Vessels, will be:
Officer of the Watch (OOW) Less than 3000gt
Chief Mate Less than 3000gt
Master Less than 500gt
Master Less than 3000gt
In order to accommodate those who have started their service and training under the STCW 78 regime, and wish to complete without
transferring to the STCW 95 regime, MCA has agreed the following arrangements in relation to the training modules:
To be competed by 1st February 2002
Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean
Navigation and Radar
Any 3 other modules
To be completed by 31st July 2003
Remaining 3 modules
MCA Oral Examination
Note: The seven modules of the STCW 78 system are: -
Ship Construction & Stability, Business & Law, GMDSS (GOC), Advanced Fire Fighting, Navigation and Radar, Advanced Sea Survival,
Medical Care Aboard Ship
Engineer Officers
When the manning requirements of the Code were originally drawn up, the industry view was that there was no need for new qualifications
specifically for the large yacht industry, as the Merchant Navy qualifications would suffice. Feedback from the industry and the introduction
of STCW 95 caused the MCA, in consultation with the industry, to create yacht Engineer qualifications to reflect the needs of the industry.
These qualifications have been available since September 2000 and the details may be found in Marine Guidance Note MGN 156.
It has become increasingly apparent that there is a great shortage of yacht engineers qualified to man the fleet so the MCA, in response
to representations from the industry, has decided upon certain measures aimed at alleviating the situation.
Provision was made within MGN 156 (Paragraph 7.0) for experienced yacht engineers without qualifications to be granted eligibility for the
Chief Engineer (Yacht 2) certificate of competency examination. One criterion is to have not less than 5 years yacht service including
12 months accumulated actual sea service prior to 1st September 2000. MCA has extended this to 1st September 2001.
MCA is prepared to accept Australian, New Zealand and South African engineering apprenticeships in the same way as it accepts UK
apprenticeships provided the national maritime administrations confirm that the apprenticeships would be acceptable for entry to the
Merchant Navy.
MCA will accept holders of Australian Marine Engine Driver Class 1 and Marine Engineer Class 3 for direct entry to the MEOL (Y)
examination.
MCA will accept holders of New Zealand Marine Engineer Class 4 for direct entry to the MEOL (Y) examination.
MCA will recognise naval service for Engineers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the same manner as it does service
in the British Royal Navy.
The levels of certificates specified in the Manning Scale tables in Annex A will apply from 1st August 2003. Until 31st July 2003,
the scale will be one step lower so that where a Y2 is specified in Annex A, a Y3 may serve until 31st July 2003 etc.
Where there is a requirement for an Approved Engine Course (AEC), this will not be removed.
The requirement for a 2nd Engineer on sailing vessels of less than 500gt and 1500kW is deleted.

Source MCA

The general outline until 1 August 2003

There are 2 Deck Qualifications - Deck Officer Class 4 and 5 - see the table below which details the different areas of operation for
the 2 different certificates.

The following tips are designed to help the candidate create the right impression. The Oral Examination is much like a job
interview, and creating the right impression, particularly at the start is very important. The exam is an assessment of your
abilities as a professional mariner. Therefore conduct yourself like a professional.

In summary:
- Prepare thoroughly - particularly the Collision Regulations for Deck Candidates.
- Read the latest M Notices looking for any particularly relevant ones.
- Dress Smartly - Jacket and Tie, No Jeans.
- Do not chew gum.
- Turn up in good time, but not hours before. Turning up too early is not good for your nerves.
If you do not understand the question -say so.
- Do not answer a question with a question
- Do not argue with the Examiner.
- Speak clearly
- If possible relate the question to your own sea-going experiences [but only if these were positive (and lawful)!]
- If you are unsure about the answer explain your methodology to the examiner. Frequently by talking through your thought
process you will come up with the right answer. (but don't waffle).
The examiner should not ask trick questions. If you suspect a trick, you have probably not understood the question. Ask the
examiner to repeat it.
- Before you answer count to 10 to avoid the stupid kneejerk reaction - think before you speak.
- Do not be afraid of eye contact with the examiner.
- Do not wear face jewellery.
Above all be POSITIVE - remember you are going to pass because you have had the benefit of the finest website in the
professional yachting.

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Between Now and 1st Feb 2002 - what happens if I am part way through ??
To stay in the existing system - you must complete at least the following by 1 Feb 2002
- Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean
- Navigation and Radar
- Any 3 other modules
The remaining 3 modules and the MCA oral exam will have to be completed by June 30 2003 and have served 4 years in the
industry including 250 days at sea. The Remaining modules are: Advanced Fire Fighting, GMDSS GOC, Medical Care, Advanced
Sea Survival, Ship Construction & Stability, Business & Law.

Class 5 Certificate Holders
May upgrade to Class 4 before 31 July 2003.
If you fail to upgrade you will carry forward any current limitations.
To upgrade after 31 July 2003 will have to complete all modules for Master 500gt (yachts).
If you have sufficient sea service for a certificate under the new system but have not entered the existing system you will have to
undertake all the new modules.
Sea service already gained will be considered in lieu for the service required between the new certificates of competency.

MGN 195 will contain new manning scales - this is the suggested one for motor yachts.
The new manning scales will come into force on 1 August 2003

First Certificate - Officer Of Watch OOW
- Minimum 19 years of age
- 36 months yacht service
- Yachtmaster Offshore COC
- Yachtmaster Offshore shore based course
- Medical Fitness
- Advanced sea survival course
- STCW "4 pack" (basic training)
a) Personal Survival Techniques
b) Fire Prevention & Fire fighting
c) Elementary First Aid
d) Personal Safety and Social responsibility
- GMDSS course (10 day)
- 10 days Navigation and Radar course
- 5 days General Ship Knowledge course
- Task Book completed
First MCA Oral Exam - Awarded Officer of Watch - OOW (Y)

Second Certificate - Chief Mate
- Hold OOW (Y)
- Advanced fire fighting Course
- Medical First Aid
- Medical Fitness
- Yachtmaster Ocean shore based course
- Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate - Awarded Chief Mate (Y)

Master 500gt (Y)
- Minimum age 21
- 12 months yacht service holding OOW(Y)
- Satisfy the Chief Mate (Y) requirements
- 10 days navigation, ARPA and Radar simulator and passage planning course
- 5 days masters stability course
- 5 days business law course
- 5 days masters seamanship, meteorology and oral preparation
- Medical care aboard ship
- Medical Fitness
Final MCA Oral Exam - Awarded Master 500gt (Y)

Master (Y) up to 3000gt
- 2 years service while holding OOW certificate
- Hold Master 500gt(Y)
- Medical care aboard ship
- Medical Fitness
Final MCA Oral Exam - Awarded Master (Y)

Crew Basic Safety Training
There is no statutory requirement for crew (other than Master, Deck Officers and Engineers) to be qualified. The MCA Code
requires ALL crew to have recent and relevant experience in the type of vessel in which they are sailing. The ISM Code requires
all crew to be properly trained and qualified.

Completion of the STCW "4 Pack" would be accepted.

These are, Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social
Responsibility

Acceptable Entry Equivalents
After 31 January 2002 the following will allow entry into the new OOW (Yacht) modules in place of the Yachtmaster Offshore
New Zealand Coastal Master, USCG 500gt Ocean, Italian Navida di Porto, French PPV, Australian Master Class 4

Non UK Short Courses
The MCA will recognise "4 pack" courses from any IMO White List organisation.
The MCA is approving other short courses from Australia, New Zealand, S Africa and Eire for Fire Fighting, First Aid, PSCRB,
GMDSS.

Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CEC)
Non UK Certificates of Competency will be recognised by MCA by issuing CEC's. Important - If a certificate is marked Coastal Area
it can only be recognised for the Coastal Area of the Issuing Authority - not ANY Coastal Area.

ENGINEERS
MGN 156 is the definitive document.
Further advice from the MCA is as follows:
The yacht engineer with five years verifiable sea service, including 365 days spent actually " at sea" is eligible for entry at the Y2
level.
After February 1st 2002, this opportunity for the engineers to enter at the Y2 level will be closed.
Progression through the structured program will then be the only way to achieve the higher levels of license.
For engineers who miss the February 1st 2002 deadline, entry at the Y4 level will continue to be available.
The engineers with three and a half years verifiable sea service may be eligible to enter at this stage.
In both cases a number of training modules must be completed (or exemptions gained) before the candidate may take the oral
examination necessary for the issue of the appropriate MCA license.

Later advice from MCA
1. All Engineering candidates, including Y2 and Y4 must, as of June 27th 2001, complete and mail in a fully completed M.C.A.
application form MSF 4278 / REV0301 (Application For an Oral Examination Leading To The Issue of A Certificate of Competency
(STCW95) for YE) BEFORE any classes or exams can be taken.
2. Y2 Applicants have now had the qualifying Sea Service and Sea Time period extended from the 1st of September 2000 to the 1st
of August 2001.
3. Y2 Applications will NOT BE ACCEPTED after February 1st 2002 for entry level - there will be no exceptions.
4. Y4 Applicants are not subjected to any time constraints, but again please note item 1

Applications should be made as quickly as possible to the M.C.A. as to avoid the possible processing delays due to the expected
increase in volumes before the February 1st 2002 deadline. Applications are available from the M.C.A.

MCA Press Release 29 October 2001
YACHT MANNING QUALIFICATIONS
The transitional period for the implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW 95) ends on 31st January 2002.
Engineer Officers
When the manning requirements of the Code were originally drawn up, the industry view was that there was no need for new
qualifications specifically for the large yacht industry, as the Merchant Navy qualifications would suffice. Feedback from the industry
and the introduction of STCW 95 caused the MCA, in consultation with the industry, to create yacht Engineer qualifications to reflect
the needs of the industry. These qualifications have been available since September 2000 and the details may be found in Marine
Guidance Note MGN 156.
It has become increasingly apparent that there is a great shortage of yacht engineers qualified to man the fleet so the MCA, in
response to representations from the industry, has decided upon certain measures aimed at alleviating the situation.
- Provision was made within MGN 156 (Paragraph 7.0) for experienced yacht engineers without qualifications to be granted
eligibility for the Chief Engineer (Yacht 2) certificate of competency examination. One criterion is to have not less than 5 years yacht
service including 12 months accumulated actual sea service prior to 1st September 2000. MCA has extended this to 1st
September 2001.
· MCA is prepared to accept Australian, New Zealand and South African engineering apprenticeships in the same way as it accepts
UK apprenticeships provided the national maritime administrations confirm that the apprenticeships would be acceptable for entry
to the Merchant Navy.
- MCA will accept holders of Australian Marine Engine Driver Class 1 and Marine Engineer Class 3 for direct entry to the MEOL (Y)
examination.
· MCA will accept holders of New Zealand Marine Engineer Class 4 for direct entry to the MEOL (Y) examination.
· MCA will recognise naval service for Engineers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the same manner as it does
service in the British Royal Navy.
- The levels of certificates specified in the Manning Scale tables in Annex A will apply from 1st August 2003. Until 31st July 2003, the
scale will be one step lower so that where a Y2 is specified in Annex A, a Y3 may serve until 31st July 2003 etc. Where there is a
requirement for an Approved Engine Course (AEC), this will not be removed.
· The requirement for a 2nd Engineer on sailing vessels of less than 500gt and 1500kW is deleted.

MCA, STCW, USCG, GMDSS, SOLAS, MARPOL, IMO, GT...

Yachting has changed hugely in the last few years. As little as ten years ago crewing professionally was very different from how
it is today.
Things have started to tighten up a lot now and this plays an important part with regards to individuals hoping to find professional
(paid) work on yachts.
Unless you have a few ideas about the ground rules it can be a lot more complicated than you might think.
The MCA have introduced a whole lot of new measures aimed at tightening up rules. Many of these have only really come into force
within the last two/three years. As most of these rules and regs are aimed at keeping you safe and well, they are not necessarily a
bad thing.
However, what it does mean is that simply walking onto a boat is not quite as simple as it used to be.

Although much more information can be found in the book, 'Working on yachts and Megayachts, we will give you a brief outline of
how it all works here.
All yachts have to be registered. Some of these are registered in Australia, some in New Zealand, Africa etc but most are registered
under one of two flags, the British or the American.
This means that the yacht is governed by the MCA (British) or by the USCG (America). These two agencies lay down the rules/laws
covering just about everything that concerns a yacht from how high the side rails are, to what qualifications it's crew must have.
This is where the S.T.C.W. comes in. Both flags require that most crew, including chefs, stews, and deckhands, in certain
circumstances, must have STCW recognised qualifications.
'Working on yachts and Megayachts' takes a much closer look at these qualifications and tells you how long a course should be,
where you can do it and how long you should expect it to last.
MCA (M.C.A.) stands for Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

STCW (S.T.C.W.) stands for Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping
Today most crew are expected to have, at the very least, the minimum STCW recognised qualifications. These qualifications
include the B.S.T. (Basic Safety Training) which covers four modules, namely basic fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal
survival, and personal safety & social responsibility

USCG (U.S.C.G.) stands for United States Coast Guard.

G.M.D.S.S., S.O.L.A.S., M.A.R.P.O.L., I.M.O., G.T. are also acronyms used by the yachting community and while it is not critical that
you know what they mean in these early stages understanding what they mean and how they apply may be very helpful to you at
a later date. Again, these are covered in greater detail in the book, 'Working on yachts and Megayachts.'

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