Download Yachtsman Certification Application Form

International Yachting Association (IYA) provides certification of yachtsmen and issues the Certificates of Competence to candidates who meet the qualification requirements of the relevant level.

• MOTORBOAT & RIB OPERATOR
Holders are qualified to operate motorboats and RIBs up to 15 meters, driven by inboard or outboard motors, in fair weather conditions, in sight of land. No horsepower limitations. Candidates should be 16 years of age or over. This certificate is valid for use on commercial, private and charter yachts. International Yachting Association recognizes Motorboat & RIB Operator certificates of competence from other licensed organizations.

• VHF MARINE OPERATOR
Holders are qualified as a VHF Marine Radiocommunication Operator. Candidates should be 16 years of age or over. Candidates must be able to operate VHF Marine Radio Station, know how to give Distress, Urgency and Safety signals, procedures for DSC, EPIRB’s, SART’s and AIS. International Yachting Association recognizes VHF Radio Operator certificates of competence from other licensed organizations.

• YACHT SAILOR
Holders are qualified as a Yacht Sailor (deckhand) on sailing or power-driven vessels up to 24 meters. Candidates should be 16 years of age or over. It is the level of competence that someone needs either when acting as watchkeeping crew on a yacht and as a skipper of a small yacht (less than 10m) in protected waters. This certificate is valid for use as a crew member on commercial, private and charter yachts.

• INTERNATIONAL YACHT SKIPPER
Holders are qualified to command sailing or power-driven vessels up to 24 meters in coastal waters and up to 20 NM offshore by day or by night. Candidates should be 16 years of age or over. To have logged with proof of a total of 200 nautical miles and 10 days at sea by the end of course. Must have taken IYA’s Yacht Sailor Certificate of competence or they must hold an equivalent qualification from another training organization. Hold an IYA’s VHF Marine Operator Certificate or equivalent from another licensed organization. This certificate is valid for use as a Yacht captain on commercial, private and charter yachts.

• YACHT MASTER COASTAL
Holders are qualified to command sailing or power-driven vessels up to 24 meters in coastal waters and up to 60 NM offshore by day or by night. Candidates should be 18 years of age or over. To have logged 25 days and 800 miles at sea including 2 days as watch leader/skipper, 12 hours underway on watch at night before start of the course. Must have taken IYA’s International Yacht Skipper Certificate of competence or they must hold an equivalent qualification from another training organization. Hold an IYA’s VHF Marine Operator Certificate or equivalent from another licensed organization. This certificate is valid for use as a Yacht captain on commercial, private and charter yachts.

• YACHT MASTER OFFSHORE
Holders are qualified to command sailing or power-driven vessels up to 24 meters and up to 150 NM offshore by day or by night. Candidates should be 20 years of age or over. To have logged 50 days on board a yacht at sea, have logged 3,000 miles in a yacht while cruising at sea (power or sail), 30 hours on watch at night underway as an active member of a yacht’s crew. Must have taken IYA’s Yacht Master Coastal Certificate of competence or they must hold an equivalent qualification from another training organization. Hold an IYA’s VHF Marine Operator Certificate or equivalent from another licensed organization. Candidates for Yacht Master Offshore level are not required but highly recommended to complete STCW-78/95 Basic Safety Training courses which cover Fire Fighting, Sea Survival, First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities sections. This certificate is valid for use as a Yacht captain on commercial, private and charter yachts.

• YACHT MASTER OCEAN
Holders are qualified to command sailing or power-driven vessels up to 24 meters on all oceans worldwide by day or by night. Candidates should be 22 years of age or over and have experience of ocean passage. Must have taken IYA’s Yacht Master Offshore Certificate of competence or they must hold an equivalent qualification from another training organization. Hold an IYA’s VHF Marine Operator Certificate or equivalent from another licensed organization. Candidates for Yacht Master Ocean level are not required but highly recommended to complete STCW-78/95 Basic Safety Training course which cover Fire fighting, Sea survival, First aid, Personal safety and Social responsibilities sections. The holders must have sufficient knowledge of celestial navigation using a sextant. This certificate is valid for use as a Yacht captain on commercial, private and charter yachts.

SUPERYACHT QUALIFICATIONS:

• YACHT STEWARDESS
Holders are qualified to serve as a Yacht Stewardess. To become a Yacht Stewardess, you need to gain specific qualifications and experience. This involves completing mandatory certifications, like STCW Basic Safety Training and an ENG1 medical certificate. Additional training in areas like food safety and hygiene, as well as yacht-specific interior skills, can enhance your job prospects.

• GMDSS RESTRICTED OPERATOR
Holders are qualified to operate marine VHF radio station with DSC in A1 sea area. Must hold IYA’s VHF Marine Operator Certificate of competence or VHF Radio Operator Certificate of competence from other licensed organizations.

• GMDSS GENERAL OPERATOR
Holders are qualified to operate marine VHF/MF/HF radio stations with DSC in A1, A2 and A4 sea areas and INMARSAT satellite station in A3 sea area. Must hold GMDSS Restricted Operator Certificate of competence or Certificate of competence from other licensed organizations.

• MASTER OF YACHTS 200 GT LIMITED (Sail & Power)
Holders are qualified to command sailing or power-driven superyachts up to 200 GT up and to 150 NM offshore. Candidates should be 22 years of age or over. Must have taken IYA’s Yacht Master Ocean Certificate of competence or they must hold an equivalent qualification from another training organizations. Hold an GMDSS Restricted Operator Certificate of competence. Candidates for Master of Yachts 200 GT Limited are required to complete STCW-78/95 Basic Safety Training course which covers Fire fighting, Sea survival, First aid, Personal safety and Social responsibilities sections. This certificate is valid for use as a Yacht captain on commercial, private and charter yachts. This certification is recognized worldwide and meets STCW standards, making it a globally accepted qualification for professional captains.

• MASTER OF YACHTS 200 GT UNLIMITED (Sail & Power)
Holders are qualified to command sailing or power-driven superyachts up to 200 GT on all oceans worldwide. Candidates should be 23 years of age or over. Must have taken IYA’s Master of Yachts 200 GT Limited Certificate of competence or they must hold an equivalent qualification from another training organizations. Hold an GMDSS General Operator Certificate of competence. Candidates for Master of Yachts 200 GT Unlimited are required to complete STCW-78/95 Basic Safety Training course which covers Fire fighting, Sea survival, First aid, Personal safety and Social responsibilities sections. This certification provides in-depth knowledge of celestial navigation, ocean passage planning, and advanced meteorology. This certificate is valid for use as a Yacht captain on commercial, private and charter yachts and recognized worldwide, making it a globally accepted qualification for professional captains.

• MASTER OF YACHTS 500 GT (Sail & Power)
Holders are qualified to command sailing or power-driven superyachts up to 500 GT on all oceans worldwide. Candidates should be 23 years of age or over. Must have taken IYA’s Master of Yachts 200 GT Unlimited Certificate of competence or they must hold an equivalent qualification from another training organizations. Hold an GMDSS General Operator Certificate of competence. Candidates for Master of Yachts 500 GT are required to complete STCW-78/95 Basic Safety Training course which covers Fire fighting, Sea survival, First aid, Personal safety and Social responsibilities sections. This certification provides in-depth knowledge of celestial navigation, ocean passage planning, and advanced meteorology. This certificate is valid for use as a Yacht captain on commercial, private and charter yachts and meets STCW standards, making it a globally accepted qualification for professional captains. Holders of Master of Yachts 500 GT Certificate of competence can take position of Chief officer on vessels up to 3000 GT.

There are some prerequisites that must be met before a Candidate can apply for a IYA’s Certificates of competence. They are as follows:

• MEDICAL & EYESIGHT STANDARDS
A physical/optical examination by a qualified physician based on the guidelines below isstrictly recommended to hold a Yacht Master Coastal, Yacht Master Offshore or Yacht Master Ocean Certificates.

To obtain Superyacht qualifications candidates must hold Physical Examination Report/Certificate in compliance with the requirements of the Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention 1946 (ILO №73) from licensed medical clinics. Please note that some conditions such as color blindness may restrict a candidate’s ability to obtain a command Certificates of competence and/or a Superyacht qualifications.

1. MEDICAL STANDARDS
In addition to normal fitness standards, the following conditions are specified to ensure thecandidate can perform relevant watch-keeping duties without creating an unacceptable risk to him/herself, other members of the crew, or the safe operation of the vessel.

• Hearing
Adequate hearing is a necessity when operating a VHF radio station. Hearing ability should be tested by the whispered voice or other approved tests. When hearing levels do not meet generally accepted standards, hearing aids may be accepted.

• Epilepsy
Persons who suffer from epilepsy are unfit for certification. However, persons who are free from attack without the use of drugs for at least 2 years may be considered.

2. EYESIGHT STANDARDS
A person conducting a navigational watch should be capable of identifying the lights andsignals of other vessels as well as hazards to navigation at a safe distance, in typical weather conditions at sea.

• Persons with one eye or poor vision in one or both eyes MUST obtain a report from aqualified Ophthalmologist.

• With or without aids to vision, have a minimum 20/40 vision in each eye.

• With or without aids to vision pass a color vision test. The ISHIHARA test or Lanterntest may be used.

• EXPERIENCE (Pre-course experience)
For International Yacht Skipper and Yacht Master’s qualifications, the minimum experience (described as mandatory above) is required. Only experience as a Skipper or an active member of crew on a yacht at sea is considered to be qualifying experience.

• PERSONAL LOGBOOK
A personal logbook is required as proof of experience. The logbook records and the details of each voyage should be signed off by the Skipper of the yacht. If you are the Skipper for a particular voyage, you sign for that voyage yourself. Where the candidate has not kept a personal logbook, the IYA’s Examiner may accept retrospective logging of experience at his discretion.