• STCW Personal Survival Techniques (STCW A-VI/1-1) Valid for five years, requires refresher training
• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW A-VI/1-2) Valid for five years, requires refresher training
• STCW Elementary First Aid (STCW A-VI/1-3)
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW A-VI/1- 4)
• STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA) (STCW A-VI/6-1) or
• STCW Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD) (STCW A-VI/6-2) Either qualification is acceptable, however if you are expected to take a watch on board regardless of position, it is beneficial to take the more advanced qualification PDSD.

Pre-requisite to attend an Efficient Deckhand (EDH) Course is six months on board (vessels over 15m) is required.

In addition, one of the following is required prior to attending an EDH course:

• RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC (sail or power) or IYT Master of Yachts Limited. Or
• MCA Navigational Watch Rating (NWR) certificate (STCW II/4) (with at least six months of sea time on vessels of at least 15m) and completion of the Nav Watch TRB. Or
• MCA Yacht Rating Certificate (STCW A-II/4) (with at least six months of onboard yacht service, including two months of actual sea time, all of which must be on vessels of 15 metres or over), completion of the Yacht Rating TRB, and a Steering certificate.

MCA Efficient deckhand is required to be held for 18 months before being able to obtain OOW CoC. Although the OOW may be some way off at this time, it is important to understand the pre-requisites. Before being able to attend an MCA EDH course, six months of sea time and one of the following is required:

• RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (or greater, sail or power), or 
• MCA navigational watch rating (NWR) certificate STCW II/4 (with at least six months of seagoing service on vessels of at least 15m) and completion of the Nav Watch TRB, or 
• MCA Yacht Rating Certificate STCW A-II/4 (with at least six months of onboard yacht service, including two months of actual seagoing service, all of which must be on vessels of 15 metres or over), completion of the Yacht Rating TRB, and a Steering certificate.

Although no additional sea time is required prior to commencing courses for Officer of the Watch (OOW) (yachts less than 3000 GT), before issue of a Certificate of Competency (CoC) the EDH certificate must be held for 18 months and a minimum of 36 months on board and 365 days of sea time (all on vessels over 15m) is required.

The 365 days of sea time can be made of the following:

• A minimum of 250 days’ sea time and
• 115 days of any combination of the following:
  • Sea time
  • Stand-by time (alongside) to a maximum of 14 consecutive days may be counted at one time, but at no time can the period of standby service exceed that of the previous voyage
  • Yard time up to a maximum of 90 days continuously or in separate periods

• RYA Coastal Skipper or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, Theory and Practical Exam ** or IYT Master of Yachts Limited
• MCA Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) (STCW A-IV/2)
• MCA Human Element of Leadership and Management at the Operational Level (HELM O)
• MCA Proficiency in Survival Crafts and Rescue Boats restricted (PSCRB) (STCW A-V1/2). Valid for five years, requires refresher training
• MCA Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) (STCW A-II/1)
• MCA Navigation and Radar (Nav & Radar) for OOW Yachts (STCW A-II/1) *
• MCA General Ship Knowledge (GSK) for OOW Yachts *
• Complete an MCA Yacht OOW Training Record Book (TRB)
• MCA Oral Exam Pass

Application to obtain the CoC requires a Notice of Eligibility (NOE), providing evidence of certification and sea time.
* MCA Pass certificates are valid for three years, and will need to be in-date at the time of the issue of the CoC. If these certificates have expired, course and exam re-takes will be required.
** RYA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC is required to be eligible for attending the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Oral Exam.

Although no additional sea time is required for the Chief Mate 3000 GT, you must hold a current OOW 3000 GT.

• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory and Oral Exam or IYT Master of Yachts Unlimited
• MCA Advanced Firefighting (STCW A-VI/3). Valid for five years, requires refresher training
• MCA Proficiency in Medical First Aid (STCW A-V1/4-1). Valid for five years
• MCA Human Element of Leadership and Management at the Management level (HELM M)
  
  

  *Application to obtain the CoC requires a valid MCA Proficiency in Survival Crafts and Rescue Boats restricted (PSCRB) (STCW A – V1/2)

To obtain the Master CoC (yachts less than 500GT) you are required to have served as a deck officer holding OOW 3000 GT CoC for a minimum of 12 months, including at least 120 days of watchkeeping service (all on vessels of 15 metres or over).

• MCA Proficiency in Medical Care (STCW A-VI/4-2). Valid for five years 
• MCA Celestial Navigation written exam pass **
• MCA Stability for Master Yachts *
• MCA Seamanship and Meteorology for Master Yachts *
• MCA Business and Law for Master Yachts *
• MCA Navigation, Radar, ARPA Simulator for Master Yachts (STCW A-II/2) *
• MCA Oral Exam Pass

Application to obtain the CoC requires a Notice of Eligibility (NOE), providing evidence of certification and sea time.
* MCA Pass certificates are valid for three years, and will need to be in-date at the time of the issue of the CoC. If these certificates have expired, course and exam re-takes will be required.
** Celestial Navigation Certificate is valid for one year and needs to be in-date at the time of the issue of the CoC. If the certificate has expired, an exam re-take will be required.

For issue of Master 3000 GT CoC (Yachts), you are required to have served as a deck officer holding OOW 3000 GT CoC for a minimum of 24 months, including at least 240 days of watchkeeping service on vessels of 15 metres or over, including 12 months on vessels over 24 meters, or six months on vessels of 500 GT or more.

• MCA Proficiency in Medical Care (STCW A-VI/4-2). Valid for five years
• MCA Celestial Navigation written exam pass **
• MCA Stability for Master Yachts *
• MCA Seamanship and Meteorology for Master Yachts *
• MCA Business and Law for Master Yachts *
• MCA Navigation, Radar, ARPA Simulator for Master Yachts (STCW A-II/2) *
• MCA Oral Exam Pass

Application to obtain the CoC requires a Notice of Eligibility (NOE), providing evidence of certification and sea time.
* MCA Pass certificates are valid for three years, and will need to be in-date at the time of the issue of the CoC. If these certificates have expired, course and exam re-takes will be required.
** Celestial Navigation Certificate is valid for one year and needs to be in-date at the time of the issue of the CoC, where an exam re-take will be required if this certificate has expired.

All senior members of the crew will be expected to take on a leading role regarding security duties onboard. Anyone who is involved with security muster duties, must have this qualification.