Whether it is your first time as yacht crew or you are looking to progress in your yachting career, an ENG1 yacht crew certification is an essential medical fitness certificate for seafarers looking to secure a job on a yacht. This mandatory yacht crew qualification ensures crew members are fit to work on a superyacht and are capable of performing the necessary duties at sea.
Depending on the yacht’s flag state you intend to work on, there are several alternative countries from which you can receive your yacht crew certification. Explore the list of accepted health examinations for the most popular flag states.
UK ENG1 yacht crew certification
For individuals looking for a yacht crew job on a vessel registered with a UK flag, the ENG1 Seafarer Medical Certificate is the industry benchmark. The yacht crew certification is a medical examination set by the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) to assess whether individuals are fit to work on a yacht and perform duties at sea.
Insurance companies require yachts to comply with safety requirements in order for the vessel to be covered. This means all crew members must be fully STCW compliant (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) – and to obtain an STCW Basic Safety Certificate, all crew must pass an ENG1 medical exam.
The ENG1 yacht crew certification is awarded upon completing a basic medical examination carried out by an MCA-Approved Doctor. If individuals are over the age of 18, pass the examination and are considered in good health, the ENG1 certificate will be granted and is valid for two years.
It is recommended that you undertake the medical examination as soon as you decide to embark on a career as a yacht crew.
British Virgin Islands (BVI)
Those who wish to work on yachts registered with the BVI flag must also obtain an ENG1 yacht crew certification or alternative medical certificate outlined by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the MSN 1815.
Malta
To work on a yacht registered in Malta, accepted medical fitness yacht crew qualifications must be issued in accordance with the Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946, or the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976. This can be issued by either an authority approved by the laws of a State outside Malta or an authority empowered by the laws of a State outside Malta.
Gibraltar
The Gibraltar Maritime Administration will only accept seafarers’ medical fitness certificates that have been issued in accordance with either The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, the STCW, or the ILO 73 Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946.
Should seafarers not get covered by the STCW convention, the yacht crew qualification must meet the substance of the STCW requirements. This applies to those who do not hold watchkeeping responsibilities on board the vessel yet are classified as seafarers by the MLC.
Cayman Islands
Medical certificates issued by a country listed on the ‘STCW Whitelist’ or a country that follows The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, are accepted for yacht crew on Cayman registered yachts. These yacht crew qualifications should be issued following Regulation I/9 of the STCW Convention, which outlines the standards of physical and medical fitness required to work.
Other essential yacht crew qualifications
STCW Basic Safety Training Certificate
The Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Certificate is a compulsory safety requirement for anyone looking for work on yachts of more than 24 metres. To obtain the yacht crew certification, individuals must complete the five modules: Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, and Proficiency in Security Awareness.
The STCW training course is available to take in all major yachting centres and does not require any formal pre-course requirements. However, individuals must be over the age of 17 to enrol in the crew training course.
The STCW takes five days to complete and will involve a variety of practical, hands-on training and theory-based exams. The yacht crew qualification is valid for five years. After this, a STCW Basic Safety Training refresher course must be undertaken.
If you are thinking about joining a yacht crew team, contact a trusted yacht crew agency today and begin your yachting career.
