The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification is one of the most prestigious and respected sailing qualifications in the world. It is a testament to your skills and experience as a skipper, and it opens up a world of opportunities for professional sailing careers. If you are planning to skipper a commercial vessel, you will need a commercial endorsement for your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification. This includes vessels such as charter yachts, day sailing boats, and work boats.
Comercial endorsement for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
A commercial endorsement for your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification is a great opportunity for those who want to turn their sailing skills into a profession.
There are two kinds of commercial endorsement for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification: STCW 78 endorsement and non-STCW endorsement.
Which commercial endorsement do I need?
The acceptability of your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification for commercial endorsement will depend on your nationality, the size and flag state of the vessel, and the area where the vessel will be operating commercially. The RYA can tell you which qualifications are required for UK flagged vessels, but you will need to contact a specialist lawyer or, in some cases, the local harbourmaster’s office to check whether your Yachtmaster Offshore qualification is acceptable for the specific vessel and area of operation you are interested in.
In many cases, you will need a professional qualification issued by your country of origin or that of the vessel’s flag state in order to operate a commercial vessel. This is because each country has its own maritime laws and regulations, and the requirements for commercial skippers can vary from country to country.
Even if you have a commercial endorsement for your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification, this may not be enough to meet the requirements of all countries. For example, if you are planning to work as a commercial skipper on a vessel flagged in Spain, you will need to obtain a certificate of competence issued by the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante.
The best way to find out what qualifications are required for a particular country or vessel is to contact the relevant maritime authority. You can also find information on the websites of many maritime authorities.
Kinds of commercial endorsement
There are two kinds of commercial endorsement for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification: STCW 78 endorsement and non-STCW endorsement. The STCW 78 endorsement is for holders of an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean Certificate of Competence working under non-UK maritime authorities. The RYA strongly recommends that you choose the STCW 78 endorsement, as it is more widely accepted internationally.
Non-STCW commercial endorsement
To apply for a non-STCW commercial endorsement, you will need to send the following items to the RYA:
- Your original certificate
- Your Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate
- A commercial endorsement application form
- Your original, completed ML5 Medical Report Form or ENG1 medical fitness form a photocopy of your ML5 if version MSF 4112 REV 02/23 or ENG1 Medical will be accepted
If you hold the following certificate from the Spanish Instituto Social de la Marina, you can supply a photocopy as proof of medical fitness: Certificado Médico de Aptitud para Embarque.
- A copy of your RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques
- A copy of your RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or a GMDSS Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate.
- A passport sized photo with your name on the back
- The application fee
STCW commercial endorsement
To apply for an STCW commercial endorsement, you will need to send the following items to the RYA:
- Your original RYA certificate of competence certificate
- Your Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate
- A commercial endorsement application form
- Your original, completed ENG1 medical fitness form. A photocopy of your ENG1 Medical will be accepted.
If you hold the following certificate from the Spanish Instituto Social de la Marina, you can supply a photocopy as proof of medical fitness: Certificado Médico de Aptitud para Embarque.
- A copy of the following STCW certificates: Personal Survival Techniques STCW 78 (STCW A-V1/1-1), Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW A-V1/1-4), Elementary First Aid (STCW A-V1/1-3) and Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention (A-V1/1-2).
If you hold the following certificate from the Spanish maritime authority, you can supply a copy as proof that you hold the required STCW certificates: Certificado de Especialidad de Formación Básica en Seguridad Marítima
- A copy of your RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate.
If you hold the following certificate from the Spanish maritime authority, you can supply a copy as proof that you hold the required GMDSS certificates: Certificado de Operador Restringido del SMSSM or Certificado de Operador General del SMSSM
- A passport sized photo with your name on the back
- The application fee
Professional Practices and Responsibilities course
Since April 2012 it has been a requirement for commercial endorsement holders to take the online RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities course (PPR).
All new applicants for the endorsement must take the course prior to submitting their application.
How do I apply for a Yachtmaster commercial endorsement?
You will need to complete the commercial endorsement application form and send this to the following address, together with the items from one of the lists above.
RYA Certification
RYA House
Ensign Way
Hamble
Hampshire
SO31 4YA
Fees
At the time of writing, the fee for applying for a commercial endorsement is £40.00 There is an additional STCW endorsement fee of £15.00 if you need this option. You will need to pay these fees directly to the RYA when you apply for your commercial endorsement.
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