FR-GUIDE-L2.1

The yacht deck ladder: C200 yacht to C3000 yacht

FR-GUIDE-M2 · The yacht titles · FR-GUIDE-M2-A The French motor-yacht deck ladder, the modular route and module yacht, revalidation and engineering titles in brief.

France has its own STCW deck ladder for motor yachts, from **Capitaine 200 yacht** to **Capitaine 3000 yacht**. Each rung sits on a merchant diploma plus the module yacht.

The deck ladder

Governing: décret 2015-723 annexe II (tableau II.a); arrêtés of 20 Aug 2015, 30 Oct 2015 and 18 Apr 2016. Builds on: L1.1.

The four rungs

French yacht titles are limited versions of merchant titles. You earn the merchant diploma, add the module yacht, and the brevet is issued "yacht". The limits come from tableau II.a of décret 2015-723 and apply to motor pleasure vessels.

Title Functions and limits Age Key certificates Sea service (summary)
Capitaine 200 yacht Master, chief mate or OOW, under 200 GT, up to 60 nm from the coast; engine functions under 250 kW 20 CFBS, EM II or III, CGO 12 months (shorter for bac pro holders since 4 Sep 2025)
Chef de quart 500 yacht OOW under 500 GT 18 CFBS, CQALI, CAEERS, EM II or III, CGO 12 months on deck, 6 as master or certificated officer
Capitaine 500 yacht Master, chief mate or OOW under 500 GT 20 As above, with EM III 12 months as master or officer after the CDQ 500, 6 as master
Capitaine 3000 yacht Master, chief mate or OOW under 3000 GT 20 CFBS, CQALI, CAEERS, EM III, CGO Via the merchant Capitaine 3000

The abbreviations are the French STCW support certificates: CFBS basic safety, CQALI advanced fire fighting, CAEERS survival craft, EM medical care levels, CGO the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate.

How each rung is reached

  • Capitaine 200 yacht (arrêté 20 Aug 2015): the diplôme de capitaine 200 plus the module yacht. The C200 course includes the Mécanicien 250 kW modules, which is why the brevet carries a small engineering capacity.
  • Chef de quart 500 yacht (arrêté 30 Oct 2015, art. 4): either C200 yacht plus the diplôme de capitaine 500, or the merchant Chef de quart 500 plus the module yacht.
  • Capitaine 500 yacht (same arrêté, art. 7): the CDQ 500 yacht with the service above, or the merchant Capitaine 500 plus the module yacht.
  • Capitaine 3000 yacht (arrêté 18 Apr 2016): the merchant Capitaine 3000 plus the module yacht; holders of the C3000 sit only its specific part.

CAUTION — 'yacht' means motor Tableau II.a covers motor pleasure vessels. Sailing yachts have their own route: the Capitaine 200 voile, built on the C200 diploma plus the module voile, which you enter through a practical selection. Above 200 GT under sail, extra training and sea service set by arrêté apply.

Reading the ladder as a yacht officer

Compare with the MCA route you may know from Master (Yachts) <500/<3000 and OOW (Yachts):

  • French titles are tonnage-limited in GT, not by length, just as the MCA's are.
  • The C200 yacht is distance-limited to 60 nm. That suits Riviera and Corsica day work and short passages, not an Atlantic crossing.
  • The C200 yacht includes a sub-250 kW engine capacity. A small yacht's skipper can therefore cover the engine too.

TIP — plan from the top If you intend to end up on 50 m+ yachts, look at the merchant Chef de quart 500 or Capitaine 3000 routes early. The yacht title is then a module away rather than a new ladder.

Summary

Four motor-yacht rungs: C200 yacht (under 200 GT, 60 nm), CDQ 500 yacht, C500 yacht and C3000 yacht. Each is a merchant diploma plus the module yacht, with STCW support certificates and sea service. Sail has its own C200 voile route.

Practice questions

5 questions

recall · core

What are the limits of the Capitaine 200 yacht on deck? (a) Motor pleasure vessels under 200 GT, up to 60 nm from the coast (b) Motor yachts under 24 m within 6 nm (c) Any pleasure vessel under 200 GT, unlimited (d) Sailing yachts under 200 GT, up to 200 nm

recall · core

What engine capacity does the Capitaine 200 yacht also carry? (a) Chief engineer under 3000 kW (b) Engine functions under 250 kW (c) Engine functions under 750 kW (d) None

recall · core

What is the minimum age for the Chef de quart 500 yacht? (a) 21 (b) 20 (c) 18 (d) 16

recall · core

Which medical-care certificate does the Capitaine 500 yacht require? (a) None (b) EM I (c) EM III (d) EM II or EM III

scenario · core

A mate holds the merchant Capitaine 3000 and has just joined a 60 m French-flag motor yacht. What else does she need for the Capitaine 3000 yacht? (a) Nothing: merchant titles cover yachts automatically (b) The full 76 h module yacht plus a new C3000 course (c) The module yacht, sitting only its specific part (d) The module voile

Independent study. xplor is not affiliated with the French maritime administration (DGAMPA), the ENSM, the RIF guichet unique or any préfecture maritime, is not an approved bateau-école or training centre, and awards no title, permit, certificate or endorsement. Nothing in this guide counts towards any French title, module or assessment; titles, visas and dispensations are granted only by the French administration, and training is delivered only by approved providers. AI-drafted content pending subject-matter-expert review.