FAQ's for Yacht (Deck) Certification
You will need to have read and refer to MSN 1802, this replaces MGN 195 & MIN 202
Application Information
What are the different service definitions?
How
do I calculate my Onboard Yacht Service?
What documents
can I use to prove my Onboard Yacht Service?
How
do I obtain Testimonials and what information do they need to contain?
Does
the MCA accept International Yachtmaster Training (IYT) Master of Yachts 200 tons Offshore or IYT Master
of Yachts 200 tons Ocean Certificates (formerly commercially endorsed IYT Yachtmaster Offshore or commercially
endorsed IYT Yachtmaster Ocean) or am I required to hold a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yachtmaster
Certificate of Competency?
Does my RYA or IYT Yachtmaster
certificate need to be commercially endorsed?
If
my Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean Certificates of Competency were issued before 31 July 2003 do I need
to complete the shorebased course?
If
I need to keep hold of my passport, who can verify the photocopy?
Can
use an ML5 Medical Certificate towords my Certificate of Competency?
Can
I book my oral exam when I apply for my Notice of Eligibility?
Training Record Book Information
Where can i obtain a Training Record Book?
Do
i have to complete all short courses in the UK or are there MCA approved Training Providers overseas?
I
have plenty of Yacht sea service, do I still have to complete the Training Record Book?
Notice of Eligibility information
Q. When I qualify for my Officer of the Watch Certificate
is it possible to have my Certificate endorsed with Chief Mate?
Q.
Do I need to hold a Chief Mate Yacht Certificate of Competency before I can start counting sea service
towards the Master <500gt/ <3000gt?
General Information
Q. How long will it take to process my application?
Q.
If I have worked in dual Deck & Engineering capacities how will my time be calculated?
Q.
How do I get my UK GMDSS General Operators Certificate or Restricted Operators Certificate endorsed
under STCW?
Q. What is LY2?
Q. Where can I find Manning requirements for Yachts?
APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Q. What are the different service definitions?
A.
For the purposes of your qualifying time the service definitions are as follows:-
Service should be in the deck department
and Onboard Yacht Service reckoned from the date of engagement to the date of discharge.
At
least six months of the qualifying Sea Service must have been performed within the five years preceding
the application. Service may be performed in vessels of any flag. Candidates who are serving in a dual
engine and deck capacity will have their service counted at the rate of 50%.
Q.
How do I calculate my Onboard Yacht Service?
A.
You should start calculating your onboard yacht service from the start date of the crew agreement. Any
leave of absence must not be counted. Months should be counted first from the start date to the
previous date of the next month i.e. from 12 September to 11 October = 30 days. The remaining
days should then be added together and those days reckoned as 30 days to a month.
Examples:
1. Joined 16 January and signed off 15 February
= 1 Calendar month
2. Crew agreement starts
12th September 2005 and ends 28th August 2006
Leave of abscence starts
04th March 2006 and ends 16th April 2006. i.e. Left yacht on 3 March, 4 March being the first
day of leave. 16 April being the last day of leave and arriving onboard yacht on 17 April
12
September 2005 to 3 March 2006 = 5 months 20 days.
17
April 2006 to 28 August 2006 = 4 months 12days
Therefore,
the total amount of time that can be claimed from 12 September 2005 to 28 August 2006 = 10
months 2 days
All other types of service should be counted in total
number of days.
Q. What documents can I use to prove my Onboard Yacht
Service?
A. Any of the
following documents can be used providing they are supported by testimonials:
Q.
How do I obtain Testimonials and what information do they need to contain?
A.
Testimonials should cover conduct and ability for the full amount of qualifying service preceding
the date of application and may also include details of Sea Service and Watchkeeping Service as applicable.
Testimonials, which must be verifiable, should be in the format given in Annex C.
If details of Sea Service and Watchkeeping Service are not included in the testimonials then this time
must be verified by separate certificates of service.
Testimonials
or certificates of service should be signed by the Master of the vessel in which the qualifying service
has been performed. In the case of service as Master the testimonials or certificates of service must
be signed by the owner or a responsible person from the Yacht Management Company such as a company director
or yacht manager.
For applicants for a first watchkeeping CoC, the
testimonials may be incorporated in a loose-leaf format into the service record book or training portfolio
for those following MCA approved training programmes
Q.Does the MCA accept International
Yachtmaster Training (IYT) Master of Yachts 200 tons Offshore or IYT Master of Yachts 200 tons Ocean
Certificates (formerly commercially endorsed IYT Yachtmaster Offshore or commercially endorsed IYT Yachtmaster
Ocean) or am I required to hold a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yachtmaster Certificate of Competency?
A.
The MCA recognises both International Yachtmaster Training (IYT) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
qualifications and certificates
Q. Does my RYA or IYT Yachtmaster
certificate need to be commercially endorsed?
A. Your RYA Yachtmaster
certificates have to be commercially endorsed for service only. Your IYT Certificate is inherently
commercially endorsed as the requirements are completed as part of the award of the certificate.
Q. If my Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean
Certificates of Competency were issued before 31 July 2003 do I need to complete the shorebased course?
A. No – you will not be required to complete the shorebased
course if your Offshore OR Ocean certificate was issued before
31 July 2003
Q. If I need to keep hold of my passport, who can verify
the photocopy?
A. Photocopies of your passport
can be verified by either:
In all cases the person should write ‘I have seen the original passport and confirm that this is a true copy’ and include their full name, signature and the date. Masters should also give their CoC number and issuing Administration.
Q. Can I use an ML5 Medical Certificate
towards my Certificate of Competency?
A. No, we only accept the
ENG1 or an approved equivalent.
Q. Can I book my Oral Examination
when I apply for my Notice of Eligibility?
A.You must wait until
the Notice of Eligibility has been issued before you can book your Oral Examination. Oral examinations
are booked directly with a UK Marine Office. Oral examinations are sometimes undertaken abroad.
Please see your training provider for further details.
TRAINING RECORD BOOK INFORMATION
(Please
make sure you read hints and tips before completing your Training Record Book.)
Q. Where can I obtain a copy of a
Training Record Book?
A.
You can obtain a copy of the Training Record Book from our website (Click
here, Pdf, 460KB) OR
by contacting an MCA approved Training provider.
Q. Do I have to complete all my short
courses in the UK or are there MCA approved Training Providers overseas?
A.
We have a list of both UK and Overseas Training providers, please contact us either
by email – deck@mcga.gov.uk or on 0044 (0)2380 329231 – Option 1 for the Deck Team.
Q. I have plenty of Yacht sea service,
do I still need to complete the Training Record Book?
A.
Yes – the Training Record Book is proof of your underpinning knowledge and is a pre-requisite. However
if you can provide evidence of 36 months Sea Service in vessels of at least 24 metres in load line length
you will not be required to complete a Yacht Training Record Book.
NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Q. When I qualify for my Officer of the Watch Certificate
is it possible to have my Certificate endorsed with Chief Mate?
A.
Yes, however you will need to provide the required ancillary certificates from a trainier approved by
the MCA:
(i) Advanced fire fighting – STCW A-VI/3
(ii)
Medical First Aid – STCW A-VI/4-1
(iii) Yachtmaster Ocean
Shorebased and Certificate of Competency
Q. Do I need to hold a Chief Mate
Yacht Certificate of Competency before I can start counting sea service towards the Master <500gt/
<3000gt?
A. The sea service can be counted from your Officer
of the Watch Certificate, but you must meet the requirements for the Chief Mate before you can qualify
for a Master Notice of Eligibility.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Q. How long will it take to process
my application?
A. It will take 28 days to process your application
and issue a Notice of Eligibility. It will take 14 days to process your pass Notice of Eligibility and
issue your Certificate of Competency.
Q. If I have worked in dual Deck &
Engineering capacities how will my time be calculated?
A. Your
time will be counted at half rate.
Example: Jay Smith has worked
for 8 months in both a Deck capacity and an Engine capacity. The time will count as 4 months for
Deck and 4 months for Engine.
Q. How do I get my UK GMDSS General
Operators Certificate or Restricted Operators Certificate endorsed under STCW?
A.
You will need to send us the following documents for your initial STCW endorsement. Your GMDSS GOC/ROC
can be endorsed either with your initial application or when your Yacht Certificate of Competency is
issued.
(i) Original GMDSS GOC/ROC
(ii)
Valid acceptable Medical Fitness Certificate
(iii) Personal Survival
Techniques and (STCW A-VI/ I-I)
(iv) Basic Fire fighting and
Fire prevention (STCW A-VI/ 2)
(v) Elementary First Aid (STCW
A-VI/ 3)
(vi) Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (STCW
A-VI/ 4)
Q. What is LY2?
A.
LY2 is the Large Commercial Yacht Code and is detailed in MSN 1792.
Q. Where can I find Deck Manning requirements for Yachts?
A.
This can be found in MSN 1802 page 4 and Annex A page 19.