Yacht brief
Governing: 46 CFR 15.1103–15.1105; 11.201(h); 11.302–11.321; 12.601–12.627. Builds on: Modules 1–3.
Assumptions
The table is for a US-flag yacht in commercial service, 500 GT or more, making international voyages beyond the boundary line: the case where every provision in 15.1103 bites. Smaller and domestic cases follow.
Deck and interior
| Role | National base | STCW endorsements and training |
|---|---|---|
| Deckhand | Ordinary Seafarer | BT; Security Awareness; RFPNW if in the watch (15.1103(b)) |
| Lead deckhand / bosun | Able Seafarer | BT; Able Seafarer-Deck (15.1103(c)); PSC or PSC-Limited; VPDSD if on gangway or security rounds; FRB if crewing the rescue boat |
| Tender driver | Ordinary Seafarer or Able Seafarer | BT; PSC or PSC-Limited; FRB if the tender is the designated FRB |
| Stewardess / steward | Steward’s Department | BT (muster-list duty, 15.1105(c)); Security Awareness |
| Chef | Steward’s Department (F.H.) | BT; Security Awareness |
| Purser | Steward’s Department | BT; Security Awareness or VPDSD if assigned security duties |
On a passenger ship (more than 12 passengers, international voyage), interior crew also need STCW V/2 safety training and, if on the muster list to assist passengers, crowd management (11.1105).
Officers
| Role | STCW endorsement | Training lines (at issue) |
|---|---|---|
| OICNW / Second Officer | OICNW less than 500 GT (11.319) or 500 GT or more (11.309) | BT; AFF; PSC or PSC-Limited; Medical First-aid Provider; BRM; visual signalling; Radar Observer; ARPA, GMDSS and ECDIS if fitted |
| Chief Officer | Chief Mate 500–3,000 GT (11.313) | As OICNW plus management of medical care and leadership and managerial skills |
| Master | Master less than 500 GT (11.315) or 500–3,000 GT (11.311) | As Chief Mate; management of medical care |
| GMDSS operator | GMDSS Radio Operator (11.604) plus FCC licence | One officer on a GMDSS-fitted yacht, usually the master or chief officer |
| Engineers | See USCG STCW: Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch, and ETO and USCG STCW: Chief and Second Engineer Officer |
At renewal: leadership and teamworking (OICNW) or leadership and managerial skills (management level), ECDIS if fitted, and BT, AFF and PSC continued competence.
CAUTION – VSO A yacht carrying 12 or fewer guests is usually outside 33 CFR 104.105 and has no VSO under Part 104. If she has an ISPS-style security plan under her SMS, the company may still designate one, and 11.337 is the endorsement.
Smaller and domestic yachts
| Yacht | STCW position |
|---|---|
| Less than 200 GRT, domestic near-coastal | No STCW obligation (15.1101(a)(2)(ii)). Officers may still be issued a matching STCW endorsement (11.301(g)) |
| Uninspected passenger vessel (six-pack), domestic near-coastal | No STCW obligation (15.1101(a)(2)(iii)) |
| Great Lakes or inland only | Exempt (15.1101(a)(1)(iv)) |
| Seagoing, under 500 GT, under 750 kW, domestic | Watch the GRT and GT figures; STCW may apply through 15.1101 even if the 15.1103 officer triggers do not. Take advice |
| Single non-routine foreign voyage | Vessel-limited STCW endorsement possible (15.1101(b)) |
WARNING – The crew agent’s question “Does she have STCW?” is not a useful question on a US yacht. Ask which endorsements are on the MMC, with which limitations, and when each 5-year continued-competence date falls.
TIP – A crew training matrix Captains keep one spreadsheet: role, required endorsements, MMC expiry, BT, AFF and PSC revalidation dates, medical certificate expiry. Owners and flag inspectors ask for exactly this, and 15.1107 requires the owner or operator to keep crew training records.