Y to SV
Governing: MSN 1904 (M+F) (December 2022); MSN 1859 (M+F) Amendment 1 (withdrawn); MIN 642 (M+F). Builds on: Legacy Yacht 'Y' Certificates (MEOL(Y), Y4-Y1).
The change
MSN 1904 replaced MSN 1859 Amendment 1, MIN 524 and MIN 594. gov.uk records MSN 1859 as withdrawn on 10 January 2023. MSN 1904's summary says MSN 1859 ran in parallel until 31 December 2022 so that Yacht CoC candidates could finish training or convert, and that existing Engineering Yacht (and Tug restricted) CoCs can still be revalidated after that date.
So there are now three kinds of yacht engineer in the market:
- Y4 to Y1 holders, whose certificates remain valid and revalidate every five years;
- SV CoC holders (EOOW, Chief <500 GT/<3000 kW, Chief <3000 GT/<9000 kW), usable on yachts and other small vessels;
- SV CoC holders limited to yachts, via the yacht restricted route.
What each Y certificate allows (MSN 1859 A1 section 2)
| CoC | STCW reg | Chief Engineer | Second Engineer | OOW Engineering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y4 | III/3 | <200 GT, <1,500 kW | <500 GT, <3,000 kW | <3,000 GT, <9,000 kW |
| Y3 | III/3 | <500 GT, <3,000 kW | <3,000 GT, <3,000 kW | <3,000 GT, <9,000 kW |
| Y2 | III/2 | <3,000 GT, <3,000 kW | <3,000 GT, <6,000 kW | <3,000 GT, <9,000 kW |
| Y1 | III/2 | <3,000 GT, <9,000 kW | <3,000 GT, <9,000 kW | <3,000 GT, <9,000 kW |
All limited to commercially and privately operated yachts and sail training vessels. For the Y training history, modules and MEOL(Y), see Legacy Yacht 'Y' Certificates.
The SV certificates (MSN 1904 section 2)
| CoC | Limitation | STCW reg (MSN 1904 table) |
|---|---|---|
| SV EOOW | <9,000 kW, <3,000 GT, unlimited area | VII and III/1 |
| SV Chief Engineer | <3,000 kW, <500 GT, unlimited area | VII and III/3 |
| SV Chief Engineer | <9,000 kW, <3,000 GT, unlimited area | VII and III/2 |
Vessel types: fishing vessels, yachts, tugs, workboats, standby, seismic survey, oceanographic research and government patrol vessels. Chief CoCs are at management level ("M" on the CoC), EOOW at operational level ("O").
Why the MCA changed
MSN 1904 describes the SV structure as a progressive career path across small vessel industries, with one set of modules (Marine Diesel Engineering, Auxiliary Equipment I and II, Operational Procedures, CESOR, Applied Marine Engineering, GES I and II) instead of separate yacht, tug and fishing systems. The certificates are issued as alternative certification under STCW Article IX and Chapter VII.
Do you have to convert?
No. The MCA's engineer yacht manning guidance says the new manning arrangements should let Y holders keep working on UK and other REG yachts, and one MCA-approved college states plainly that conversion is optional for yacht work and there is no need to rush. Reasons people convert anyway: a job on a workboat or other small vessel, a higher capacity, or a single modern certificate that foreign port states recognise more easily. Lessons 3.1 to 3.3 set out the conversion routes; lesson 4.1 helps you decide.
TIP — Read your own CoC The capacity and limitations printed on your certificate, and any endorsements added since, are what count, not what the Y table says in general.