Crew
Training
There
are basically two divisions of marine licensing. Merchant Marine (commercial) licenses
apply to all ocean going vessels (including cargo ships, cruise liners, ferries and
navy vessels) and
the others are the various yachting association certificates which apply to
recreational sailing and motor yachts. Recently with the addition of much larger
yachts worldwide, most countries have been requiring commercial licenses for
yachts over one hundred feet. Canada, USA and the UK each has their own recreational yachting
associations (CYA, RYA, ASA) although most of their training and exams are very similar.
These are mostly recreational licenses and do not apply to any charter yachts,
nor vessels over 100 feet.
The
Maritime Coastguard Agency of the British commonwealth has even created a new class of commercial license (Class
4) exclusively for yachts. They will also accept applications for a MCA
Certificate
of Equivalency (CoE) from other country's licenses by submitting an
application to their agency. Canada and the United States do NOT recognize
licenses from other countries, therefore it is recommended for Americans and
Canadians to first obtain the license from their country, before applying
for an equivalency to the MCA. Also these two countries will only permit
crew who are citizens or with work visa to work on their yachts. There are
training facilities out there offering recreational "yachtmaster" licenses
up to 200 tons, however these are also limited to 70 feet in length (the
only license with a length restriction). If you plan on advancing your
career into the Superyacht and Megayacht categories, we recommend obtaining
commercial licenses.
International
Maritime Organization
The
International Maritime Organization is the United Nations' specialized
agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution
from ships. They created the Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping (STCW) in 1978 and were revised
and amended in 1995 (STCW-95). 157 governments comprise the members of the
IMO and each is individually responsible for implementing the legislation
adopted by the IMO. These countries basic emergency training are
recognized as meeting the standard set out by the IMO. This emergency
training consists of marine medical training, marine fire fighting, sea survival and
personal safety & social responsibilities. This is required by ALL crew on
board including Stewardesses, Chefs, and all Deck Crew and should be the
starting point for anyone interested in working on a yacht !
Book
A STCW Course
United
States Coast Guard
United
States Coast Guard licenses are issued as a combination of the grade, route,
propulsion and tonnage. Any combinations can be made of any of the fields
below, for example: "Master, Oceans, Motor, 100 ton".
Grades:
Master, Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third Mate, or Mate
Routes:
Inland, Great Lakes, Near Coastal or Oceans
Means
of propulsion: Steam, Motor, Sail or Auxiliary Sail
Vessel
tonnage: 100T, 150T, 200T, 500T, 1600T or unlimited
Book
A USCG Course
American
Sailing Association
Basic
Keelboat: Able to sail a boat of
about 20 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in
familiar waters without supervision. A preparatory Standard with no
auxiliary power or navigation skills required.
Basic
Coastal Cruising:
Able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper
and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20 to 30 feet in length,
in moderate winds and sea conditions.
Intermediate
Coastal Cruising: An advanced
cruising Standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual
can act as skipper or crew of a 30 - 50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal
waters. The Standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance
procedures.
Coastal
Navigation:
Able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely
navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. There is no Sailing
Skills part to this Standard and practical application of this sailing
knowledge is found in the Advanced Coastal Cruising Standard.
Advanced
Coastal Cruising: Able to safely
act as skipper and crew of a sailing vessel about 30 to 50 feet in length.
This is a day and nighttime Standard in coastal and inland water, in any
weather.
Celestial
Navigation: Able to demonstrate
the Celestial Navigation theory required to safely navigate a sailboat on an
offshore passage. The practical application is conducted in the Offshore
passage making Standard.
Offshore
Passage making: The sailor is able
to safely act as skipper or crew of a sailing vessel on offshore passages in
any weather. The Celestial Navigation Standard is performed.
MCA
Maritime and Coastguard Agency UK
The
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of the United Kingdom issues
licenses by oral exam for Class 4 and 5 commercial ticket holders for
operating UK registered vessels. Also available are Certificates of
Equivalent Competency (CEC) issued to holders of valid STCW certificates
from other recognized nations, also by way of oral examination. If you hold
a USCG license or a Canadian license, you qualify for an equivalent license
from the MCA!!
STCW
is comprised of:
Advanced
Sea Survival: 3 day course dealing with all aspects of life saving equipment
and training including practical abandonment from a yacht at sea.
MCA
Medical Care aboard Ships: 8 day course covering all aspects of medical care
on board.
Basic
and Advanced Firefighting: 5 day fire fighting course covering theory and
practical drills.
MCA
Class 4 Certificate of Competence is
comprised of:
Yachtmaster
Offshore: 5 day theory and 5 day practical course in navigation and boat
handling
Yachtmaster
Ocean: 6 day course in Celestial Navigation
GMDSS
General Operator's Certificate: 10 day course in MF/HF, Satcoms and D.S.C.
Navigation
& Radar: 10 day module in chart work and radar techniques
MCA
Ship Stability & Construction: 5 day course in ship stability &
construction
MCA
Business & Maritime Law: 5 day course in Shipmaster's Business &
Maritime Law
CLASS
4 Oral Preparation: 3 day examination preparation course covering all areas
of the syllabus. This is a revision course covering all M.C.A. Modules in
preparation for your oral examination.
CLASS
4 Oral examination covering all areas of the syllabus by an MCA examiner.
Book
A MCA Course
RYA
Royal Yachting Association UK
The
RYA is the recreational yachting licenses for UK vessels up to 200
tons.
Day
Skipper Sail / Motor Cruising: An elementary course
in basic seamanship, navigation and meteorology suitable for beginners and
people with little experience in yachts.
Coastal
Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Cruising: A more advanced
course in navigation and meteorology, suitable for students who have already
completed the elementary course or who have a background of cruising or offshore
racing. The course is definitely not for beginners. Minimum duration: 46 hours.
Yachtmaster
Ocean Sail/Motor Cruising: This course covers astral-navigation
and worldwide meteorology. Knowledge of terrestrial navigation and meteorology
to the standard of Yachtmaster Offshore is assumed. Minimum duration: 40 hours.
VHF
Radio Operators' Courses
: These short courses
prepare students for the examinations required for the operation of a marine VHF
radiotelephone. Duration: 1 or 2 days.
Introduction
to Motor Cruising
: This is an informal
course mainly run by motor cruising clubs. Although designated as a shore based
course it does include some practical sessions.
Diesel
Engine: A basic introduction
to the marine diesel engine to give students the opportunity to change the
impeller, bleed the fuel system and change fuel filters. Course numbers are
limited to six per engine on this one-day course.
Book
A RYA Course
Canadian
Merchant Marine
Watchkeeper
Mate: Qualifies the holder to carry out duties as a 3rd Mate on a
Foreign Going vessel, which usually requires an addition of the
OSI-Astro-Navigation, or as a 2nd Mate on a Home Trade Vessel.
Command
Endorsement: Qualifies the holder to act as a Master of a vessel not
exceeding 350 tons gross tonnage (within the Home Trade limits), or of a tug
of any size.
Ocean
Navigator II: Qualifies the holder to act in the capacity of a 2nd
Mate on a Foreign Going vessel or a 1st Mate on a Home Trade vessel.
Ocean
Navigator I: Qualifies the holder to act in the capacity of a 1st
Mate on a Foreign Going vessel or a Master on a Home Trade vessel.
Master
Mariner: Qualifies the holder to act in the capacity of Master on a
Foreign Going vessel or a Home Trade vessel.
Book
A Canadian Course
Canadian
Yachting Association
Basic
Cruising: This covers the skills required to cruise safely in local waters as either
skipper or crew of a sailing cruiser of 20-30 feet in moderate wind and sea
conditions by day.
Intermediate
Cruising: This covers the skills required to cruise safely a keelboat of 25-35 feet in
familiar waters. It is recommended as the minimum qualification for bareboat
chartering. The recommended time for teaching and examining the standard is five
days or two weekends.
Advanced
Cruising: This covers the skills needed to skipper or crew a sailing cruiser of 25-40 feet
during the day and night in coastal waters in any weather.
Coastal
Navigation: This covers the theory required to navigate safely in coastal or inland waters.
This theory is applied in the Advanced standard.
Celestial
Navigation: This covers the theory required to navigate safely on offshore passages. This
theory is applied in the Offshore standard.
Yachtmaster
Offshore: This is the highest level of the CYA Learn to Cruise Program. It covers the
skills required to skipper or crew on offshore passages exceeding 500 miles in
length and venturing more than 100 nautical miles from land.
Book
A CYA Course
Culinary
Training
The
largest difference in a chef position on a yacht is the extensive planning
required and the ability to work at sea. Yacht chefs must do their own
provisioning and preparation work for all of the courses including desert
and often clean their own galley as well. (Remember cleanliness is next to
godliness!) On some smaller yachts the cook may also share stewardess
responsibilities, while on larger yachts the chef may have a sous chef or
the services of one of the stews for prep work, serving, clearing and
cleaning.
Also, unlike a hotel or
restaurant, a yacht's menu should be practically unlimited with limited
resources. Inventiveness is the key! An ability to produce exotic meals from
ordinary ingredients and to present new and exciting dishes, avoiding
repetition. The chef should also be aware of many different tastes to
accommodate possible allergic, vegetarian or simply picky owners or guests.
One never knows who may be dining with the owners, your guest may be an
influential politician or a world famous actor / entertainer. At the same
time your hardest critics could be the crew themselves, who must partake at
your table every day. It cannot be said enough: present new and exciting
dishes and avoid repetition.
Book A
Culinary Course
Stewardess Training
Currently Offered in Europe, Florida,
California and Australia!
These
Privately trained courses summarize the skills required by stewardesses
including:
Professional
Etiquette and Social Skills, French,
Russian and Buffet Table Service, Interior
and Exterior Detailing, Butler Services,
Valet Services, Bartending,
Provisioning and Inventory,
Basic
First Aid, Safety Equipment,
Emergency
Procedures, International Customs and
Protocol. The Five-Day Class has a
tuition of $795
Book
A Stewardess Course
