Yachtmaster
More than 25,000 professionals are working on commercial vessels using RYA Certificates of Competence across 21 maritime flag states.
On behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the RYA administers the Yachtmaster Scheme, examines candidates and issues Certificates of Competence.
The examination will include an assessment of the candidate's skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS (collision regulations), meteorology, and signals.
Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability as skipper and may also be asked questions on any part of the RYA syllabus for all practical and shorebased courses up to Yachtmaster Coastal level.
The Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence can, subject to an ENG 1 or ML5 medical fitness test, be given a standard commercial endorsement that allows the holder to work on board British flagged vessels subject to the MCA's codes of practice for small commercial vessels up to 24 metres (79') in length, operating in category 3, 4, 5 and 6 waters - that is up to 20 nautical miles from a safe haven.
The examination involves a demonstration of skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of ship construction, ballasting, radio, radar, collision regulations, meteorology and signals.
Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability as skipper and may also be asked questions on any part of the RYA syllabus for all practical and shorebased courses except Yachtmaster Ocean.
Standard commercial endorsement The Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence can, subject to an ML5 medical fitness test, be given a standard commercial endorsement which allows the holder to work as a Master on board vessels sailing under the British flag subject to the MCA's codes of practice for small commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to 150 miles from a safe haven, or Master Category 5 operating up to 200 nautical miles offshore, depending upon country.
