Why this certificate exists
Governing: MI-118 §7.2.4 (Rev. Mar/2026). Builds on: your Master (Yachts) 3000 GT, II/2.
The problem
For most of the yacht industry's working life, the top rung of the yacht ladder has been a Master (Yachts) certificate limited to vessels under 3,000 GT. Above that line, flag States expected a merchant Master Unlimited, which meant cargo-ship training and sea time that very few yacht captains have. As builds grew past 3,000 GT, owners found that the captain who had run their last yacht for a decade could not legally take command of the new one.
The RMI Maritime Administrator's answer was to issue its own certificate: a Master CoC at the STCW II/2 management level, with no tonnage ceiling, restricted to yachts. IRI's yacht manning page describes it as a "one of a kind" CoC that has broken the 3,000 GT "glass ceiling".
The certificate in brief
| Item | Position |
|---|---|
| Issuer | RMI Maritime Administrator, via the IRI yacht crew office in Fort Lauderdale |
| Rule | MI-118 §7.2.4 and MI-118E §3.2.5.2 |
| Level | STCW II/2 Master (MPT describes it as "an STCW II/2 level Certificate of Competence") |
| Scope | Yachts of any tonnage. Not valid for merchant ships |
| Entry | An existing II/2 Master 3,000 GT CoC (yacht or merchant) |
| Final step | A capstone course and assessment at an approved training provider |
The main difference from a merchant Master Unlimited is that cargo-related competences are excluded. That exclusion is why the certificate is limited to yachts.
Timeline
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2015 | MI-118 revised to add a Master – Unlimited yacht CoC | MI-118 revision history |
| May 2016 | First graduate reported (Capt Roberto Beretta) | Luxury Yacht Group article (secondary) |
| Sep 2016 | Cayman Islands announces recognition | MACI |
| May 2026 | MCA publishes its own Yachts Unlimited route | MSN 1858 Amendment 2 |
Why it matters on board
RMI manning scales require the master of a yacht of 3,000 GT or more to hold an STCW II/2 certificate (MN 7-038-2, Table A3). The master's CoC and RMI endorsement must match the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate. On an RMI yacht above 3,000 GT, this CoC is one of the few yacht-specific ways to meet that requirement.
CAUTION — Two certificates with similar names IYT's Master of Yachts Unlimited is a small-craft ocean qualification. MSN 1858 lists it alongside the RYA Yachtmaster qualifications at the entry end of the MCA ladder. It has nothing to do with the RMI Master (Yachts) Unlimited Tonnage CoC. If you write "Master of Yachts Unlimited" on a CV without saying which one, a management company will notice.
What this course covers
The course follows the order of the application. It covers who qualifies, the command sea service, the management-level training, pre-approval, the capstone week, and what the certificate lets you do once you hold it. Exam technique for the written papers is covered in Marshall Islands Master (Yachts) Unlimited — Capstone Exam Preparation. The endorsement of other flags' CoCs is covered in Marshall Islands Endorsements for Yacht Crew.
TIP — Start with the dates Before you spend money on courses, check your sea service against the five-year window in Lesson 2.2. Most plans fail on dates, not on knowledge.