Entry & progression
Governing: STCW Table A-II/2 (and A-III/2 for engineers); MIN 482 (M); MSN 1858 (M) Amendment 2, sections 6.2 and 6.10. Builds on: HELM - Operational Level.
Who needs it
| Certificate (MSN 1858 A2, section 6.2) | HELM(M) |
|---|---|
| Chief Mate (Yachts) <3000 GT | Yes |
| Master (Yachts) <500 GT and <3000 GT | Yes |
| Chief Mate and Master (Yachts) Unlimited | Yes |
MIN 482 (2014) required a HELM(M) certificate with applications received after 31 August 2013 for the management-level CoCs it listed, including Master and Chief Officer (Yacht <3000 GT), Master (Yachts <500 GT) and yacht engineers Y1 and Y2. Section 6.10 of MSN 1858 adds that anyone taking Chief Mate at the same time as OOW needs both HELM courses.
Providers are MCA-approved and listed on gov.uk (the HELM-M list was updated 26 March 2026). Nautilus, for example, describes a five-day course requiring an operational-level CoC and HELM(O), with 100% attendance and continuous observed and written assessment. Under MSN 1865, an MCA surveyor who witnesses a provider's HELM(M) need not also witness its HELM(O).
The standard
Table A-II/2's competence is Use of leadership and managerial skill:
| Knowledge area | This course |
|---|---|
| Shipboard personnel management and training | L2.1, L4.1 |
| Related international conventions and national legislation | L2.1, L3.2 |
| Task and workload management: planning, personnel assignment, time and resources, prioritisation | L2.2 |
| Resource management: allocation, communication on board and ashore, team experience, assertiveness and leadership including motivation, situational awareness | L1.2, L2.2 |
| Decision-making: risk assessment, generating options, selecting and evaluating | L3.1 |
| Development, implementation and oversight of SOPs | L2.2, L3.2 |
The last item is new at this level. You are expected to write and maintain procedures, not just follow them.
What good looks like
Column 4 of the table is worth reading as a job description:
- crew are allocated duties and told the expected standards of work and behaviour, in a way that suits the individuals;
- training objectives are based on assessed competence and operational need;
- operations are planned and resourced in the right priority;
- communication is clear and unambiguous;
- effective leadership behaviours are shown;
- the team shares an accurate understanding of vessel state, operational status and environment;
- decisions are the most effective for the situation;
- operations comply with the rules.
The step up
At operational level you ran a watch. At management level you run a department and, as master, the vessel: people, plans, procedures and culture. On a yacht you also manage upwards, to a captain, a management company and an owner who may have strong views.
TIP — Bring your department HELM(M) works best if you bring real problems: a rota that does not work, a difficult crew member, an incident you would handle differently.
CAUTION — Check the list Only certificates from MCA-approved HELM(M) courses count for UK CoCs. Check the provider is on the current gov.uk list.