Legal frame
Governing: π.δ. 141/2014 (ΦΕΚ Α' 232) arts 1–15, 32–33. Builds on: L1.1.
How the Greek titles are built
π.δ. 141/2014 incorporates STCW. Titles are διπλώματα for officers, πτυχία for coastal masters and ratings, and άδειες for licences. Two things differ from the MCA system: many privileges are written for cargo and passenger ships rather than yachts, and the coastal titles use the term Κυβερνήτης.
Coastal voyages (παράκτιοι πλόες, art. 33) are voyages between Greek ports, or between Greek and foreign ports without going more than 30 miles from the coast.
Deck ladder
| Title | STCW | Main privileges (2014 text) |
|---|---|---|
| Δίπλωμα Πλοιάρχου Α' | II/2 | Master, any tonnage |
| Πλοιάρχου Β' | II/2 | Chief mate any tonnage; master up to 3,000 GT after 12 months as chief mate |
| Πλοιάρχου Γ' | II/1 | OOW any tonnage; master up to 500 GT coastal after 12 months as OOW |
| Πτυχίο Κυβερνήτη Α' | II/3 | Master of cargo and passenger ships up to 500 GT, coastal |
| Κυβερνήτη Β' | II/3 | Master of cargo ships up to 500 GT and passenger ships up to 400 GT, coastal, after 12 months as OOW |
| Κυβερνήτη Γ' | II/3 | Master up to 200 GT, coastal, after 12 months as OOW |
| Κυβερνήτη Τουριστικών Θαλαμηγών | II/3, IV/2 | Master of professional tourist yachts up to 400 GT, coastal (L2.2) |
| Ναύκληρος, Ναύτης | II/5, II/4 | Bosun; AB and watch rating |
Engine ladder
| Title | STCW | Chief-engineer limit |
|---|---|---|
| Δίπλωμα Μηχανικού Α' | III/2 | Unlimited |
| Μηχανικού Β' | III/2 | Up to 3,500 kW (4,000 kW coastal) after 12 months as second engineer |
| Μηχανικού Γ' | III/1 | Up to 750 kW; up to 2,250 kW after 24 months incl. 12 as second |
| Πτυχίο Μηχανοδηγού Α' | III/4–5 | Up to 750 kW (internal combustion) |
| Μηχανοδηγού Β' | III/4 | Up to 150 kW after 15 months; 550 kW after 24 months |
CAUTION — kW on the title, BHP on the scale Titles are written in kW; the yacht manning scale (L3.3) is written in BHP. Convert before you argue about who may run the engine room.
Ages and medical
Art. 32 requires medical fitness, with particular attention to sight and hearing, and minimum ages of 19 for graduates of a public or recognised maritime school, 20 for other diploma or certificate candidates and 18 for licences.
Reading the ladder as a yacht crew member
- On a Greek-flag professional yacht with a manning scale, officers must hold a Greek certificate of competency (Α.Ν.Ι.) giving that right, or a recognised foreign one (Module 3).
- On a foreign-flag yacht the flag state decides, subject to the 650 GT rule in L3.3.
- The Greek titles are not a route most foreign crew take: teaching is in Greek and entry needs Greek sea-service records. See Master (Yachts) and OOW (Yachts) in the MCA library for the STCW content itself.
TIP — Map, don't translate When a Greek agent asks "what δίπλωμα do you hold?", answer with your STCW regulation and tonnage limit. It avoids the false equivalence of "Yachtmaster = Κυβερνήτης".