A yacht captain needs at minimum a flag state officer of the watch (OOW) or Yacht Master certificate, STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) comprising firefighting, first aid, personal survival, and personal safety courses, a medical certificate, and GMDSS radio operator certificate for offshore routes.
STCW requirements vary by vessel size, flag state, and route:
For yachts under 3000 GT: Yacht Master Certificate (MCA, RYA, or equivalent flag state recognition), STCW Basic Safety Training (fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, personal survival techniques, personal safety and social responsibility), valid medical certificate (ENG1 or STCW medical), and GMDSS Restricted Radio Operator Certificate or higher for offshore operations.
For yachts over 3000 GT: STCW II/1 Officer of the Watch certificate minimum, STCW II/2 for Master.
Flag state endorsements: STCW certificates must be endorsed by the vessel's flag state. An MCA Yacht Master operating on a Cayman-flagged vessel needs Cayman Islands endorsement of the British certificate.
Certificate renewal: most STCW certificates require refresher training every 5 years. Medical certificates renew every 2 years (more frequently after age 55). GMDSS requires renewal as specified by the radio authority.
Operational note: expired crew certificates are a primary PSC detention cause. Tracking expiry dates across all crew is one of the most critical administrative tasks a captain manages.
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