Everyone on board
Governing: CYC 2025 17.2.4, 17.8; MS Notice 107 Rev.1; MS Notice 201. Builds on: Module 3.
The universal minimum
CYC 17.2.4 applies to all crew members, "including cooks and stewardesses". Each needs:
- a valid medical fitness certificate (ILO/IMO); and
- an STCW VI/1 Basic Training CoP, or an equivalent recognised by the Administration, covering personal survival, fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibility; plus
- security awareness on yachts of 500 GT and over.
CY Notice 15 repeats the point for ratings: the MSMC requires yacht ratings to hold at least VI/1 basic training, and security awareness applies to all crew, cooks and stewards included, on yachts of 500 GT and over.
None of these is endorsed. They are simply checked, so the originals must be on board.
Medicals (CYC 17.8)
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Before joining | Medical by a qualified doctor to the ILO/IMO Guidelines: sight, hearing, colour vision, limbs, neuro-psychiatric, cardiovascular |
| Validity | 2 years for seafarers over 18; the doctor may set less |
| Age 61 | Within 3 months of turning 61, then annually |
MS Notice 107 Rev.1 (8 October 2024) says the certificate is completed by a practitioner "authorised to perform medical examinations for seafarers by the authorities in the jurisdiction where the certificate is issued". That wording points to acceptance of an ENG1 issued by an MCA-approved doctor, a USCG medical certificate or an AMSA-approved examination. It does not name them.
CAUTION — Implied, not stated We found no TM statement that names the ENG1 as accepted. The wording of MS Notice 107 Rev.1 strongly implies it is. Some yacht-industry websites go further, but without citations. If a crew member holds only a medical from a country with no recognised seafarer-medical scheme, ask before they fly.
Basic training and the PSSR change
MS Notice 201 (12 December 2025) applies the amended PSSR table (MSC.560(108)) to basic training courses from 1 January 2026. Existing VI/1 certificates keep their validity. A 2023 certificate is still good until it expires; nobody needs to retake PSSR because of the change. Refresher timing follows the certificate itself.
Security awareness and above
The CYC names only security awareness (VI/6). It does not name the Ship Security Officer (VI/5) or designated security duties. For yachts of 500 GT and over, ISPS applies (CYC s.21), so a Ship Security Officer and designated duties follow. That is our reading of how the rules fit together; the CYC does not spell it out.
TIP — The cheapest fix on board Security awareness is a short course. A 500 GT-plus yacht that hires a seasonal steward without it has an MSMC gap for the price of a day's pay.
Cross-refer: ENG1 and Basic Safety in the MCA library; Security and SSO courses.