MCA Master (Yachts less than 500gt/3000gt) Certification & Requirements

Before you can obtain the Certificate of Competency, you will be required to complete a number of Master (Yacht) and MCA Ancillary courses before you can sit the Master (Yachts less than 500gt/3000gt) Certificate of Competency oral examination.

Required certification course modules:

• Stability (Master Yachts)
• Business and Law (Master Yachts)
• Navigation, ARPA and Radar Simulator (Master Yachts)
• Seamanship and Meteorology (Master Yachts)

Required ancillary course modules:

• Proficiency for Persons in Charge of Medical Care on Board Ship (STCW A-VI/4-2)
• Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)
• Human Element, Leadership and Management (Management Level)
• Celestial Navigation Exam (MCA Approved)

Recommended additional course modules:

• Orals Preparation Master (Yachts <500gt/3000gt)

To qualify for the Master (Yachts <500gt/3000gt) Certificate of Competency Oral examination you will be required to hold the pass certificates from the training courses above and also meet the following entry requirements.

Entry Requirements for Master (Yachts <500gt) Certificate of Competency (CoC) Oral Examination

• Have a minimum of 12 months Onboard Yacht Service as a Deck Officer, including not less than 120 days Watchkeeping Service, in vessels of 15 metres or over in load line length whilst holding an accepted OOW STCW Reg. II/1 (Yachts <3000gt) CoC.
• Have fully met the education and training requirements for the issue of the MCA Chief Mate STCW Reg. II/2 (Yachts <3000gt) CoC.
• Hold all of the pass certificates for the training required to obtain the Master (Yachts <500gt) CoC (please find required training modules above).

Entry Requirements for Master (Yachts <3000gt) Certificate of Competency (CoC) Oral Examination

• Have a minimum of 24 months Onboard Yacht Service as a Deck Officer, including not less than 240 days Watchkeeping Service whilst holding an accepted OOW STCW Reg. II/1 (Yachts less than 3000gt) CoC. All of this service must be completed in vessels of 15 metres or over in load line length and include 12 months in vessel of 24 metres or over in load line length, or 6 months in vessels of 500gt or more.
• Hold a Certificate of Proficiency for Person in Charge of Medical Care on Board Ship (STCW A-VI/4-2)
• Hold either a MCA Master STCW Reg. II/2 (Yachts <500gt) or have passed all written examinations and short courses required for the issue of that certificate. Note: As training module pass certificates are valid for three years, candidates are advised to obtain the MCA Master (Yachts <500gt) CoC where circumstances may preclude them from attempting the Master (Yachts <3000gt) oral examination before the modules expire.
• Pass the Master (Yachts <3000gt) oral examination

Please Note: The above entry requirements are not required to attend the training courses for Chief Mate (Yachts less than 3000gt), however are required to apply for your Notice of Eligibility (NoE) to obtain the endorsement. Full details can be found on the MCA Oral Examination Form MSF 4343.

For full Training and Certification Guidance of the UK requirements of Deck Officers on Large Yachts (over 24m) please refer to MSN 1858.