This is a quick go to checklist to tick of when starting your yachting journey. For a comprehensive full guide, see all the all the necessary STCW Certificates, Yacht Crew qualifications and training needed here.
Mandatory Certificates for Yacht Crew (STCW)
1. Passport
You need a passport to work on board. Make sure the validity of your passport is at least 6 months from the date of joining. To be safe the best would be to have at least a few year validity on your passport before starting in the Yachting Industry.
2. Medical Certificate for Seafarers (ENG1)
This certificate is valid for 2 years and mandatory to work on any Yacht in the world. You will need to get one before starting to work and applying for jobs. In the Croatia Training package we include your Medical ENG1 for free during the training week.
If you are doing the STCW in the US, we have a guide on how to get the Medical Certificate for Seafarers issued by USCG with application forms and procedures.
3.1 STCW Elementary First Aid
Included in your STCW Basic Safety Training week in Florida or Croatia. Mandatory part of the Safety Training required for all Yacht crew. Course Certificate will be issued.
3.2 STCW Basic Fire Prevention and Firefighting
Included in your STCW Basic Safety Training week in Florida or Croatia. Mandatory part of the Safety Training required for all Yacht crew. Course Certificate will be issued.
3.3 STCW Personal Survival Techniques
Included in your STCW Basic Safety Training week in Florida or Croatia. Mandatory part of the Safety Training required for all Yacht crew. Course Certificate will be issued.
3.4 STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
Included in your STCW 2010 Basic Safety Training week in Florida or Croatia. Mandatory part of the Safety Training required for all Yacht crew. Course Certificate will be issued.
4. STCW Basic Safety Training Certificate
Once you have completed all the above 4 courses and completed the exam in Croatia you will get an original worldwide approved certificate issued after your exam. You will receive it in digital form and an original copy will be sent to your preferred delivery address.
Included with us and you will be given online access to get your MCA worldwide approved certificate especially for Yacht Crew.
Safe manning Certificates for Yacht Crew (Deckhands and Stewardesses)
1. STCW Personal Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
Included with us both in the Deckhand And Premium Package. It is mostly needed for Deckhands that do gangway watch and exterior security rounds on board the yacht as part of their duties. You will be given online access to get your MCA worldwide approved certificate especially for Yacht Crew.
It is mostly needed for Stewardesses and Yacht Interior crew that handle food on board, but we include it in all our training packages. You will be given online access to get your CPD EU approved certificate.
3. STCW Crowd & Crisis Management (Large Yachts)
Included with the Premium package, and this is USCG Approved Worldwide certificate for Large and Mega Large Yachts carrying more than 12 passengers. It is required to work on the largest Yachts in the world. Online Certificate.
4. Powerboat Level 2
This is a huge bonus to have when starting to look for Deckhand jobs. Depending on availability, we can add this on request during your training week in Croatia. Many times junior crew can get on board without this and once you build experience add this to your Deckhand CV. But it can look nice on the CV.
What visas and travel documents do you need to work on Yachts as Crew ?
1. General Visas for Yachts
Since Yachts are flagged in different flag-states around the world. There is actually no visa that you need to work on the Yacht, the only visa you might need would be to stay in the country where the Yacht is located in order to join the Yacht. But once joined the Yacht signs you onboard and you get stamped out of that country. The Yacht always has an agent handling this together with the Purser or the Captain on board.
2. USA B1/B2 Visa
This Visa is for Yacht Crew based on Yachts in Florida, US and sometimes Caribbean. Sometimes it is a pre-requirement to join a specific Yacht, because the Yacht might be traveling to US.
This is not required for US and Canadian Passport holders. If you want to apply we can help with supporting letters and application.
3. EU Schengen Visa
This is for Yacht crew in Europe. If you have a EU-passport you do not require this. If you have a US, Canadian, Australian Passport and many other passports you will get 90 days free stay in Schengen during any 180 day period. This means then that you just have to get on board the Yacht within 90 days of flying into EU, once signed on the Yacht, your days in EU stops counting.
4. Seaman’s Discharge Book
This is for Yacht crew in Europe worldwide and proves that you are yacht crew and it makes you legally entitled to work in any area in the world and transit without having a visa. It will make the work easier for the Yacht Agent. With Yachtiecareers you can apply for a Cayman Island Discharge book and we will help you with the application. But you must have your STCW Training completed first as a pre-requirement for the application.
5. Superyacht Written Reference Letter
For the job search it is best if you have at least 3 written reference letters. Once completed the training you will get a Superyacht reference to use for your job search from your Instructor.
6. Superyacht CV
Maybe the most important document for the job search. We will help you write and organize your CV so that it stands out and you can get more interviews and job offers.
