What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- MCA Chief Mate (Yachts, less than 3,000 GT) certificate of competency — an STCW II/2 endorsement limited to yachts; requires prior OOW (Yachts) with its sea time.
- MCA-scheme modules: advanced/celestial navigation, yacht stability, and the final MCA oral (yacht-route structure — verify the current programme).
- Management certificates: management-level HELM (HELM-M), GMDSS GOC, SSO (VI/5) and a valid ENG1 medical.
Basic STCW
- A-VI/1 Basic Safety Training (4 modules)
- A-VI/3 Advanced Fire Fighting
- A-VI/4-1 Medical First Aid
- A-II/1 OOW Certificate — Officer of the Watch (base obligatoria)
Specific courses
- Yachtmaster Ocean (with celestial) as the yacht route's prior rung
- Large-yacht stability and trim; tender and toy operations
- Superyacht deck management: paint, teak, Med moorings and harbour watches
- ISM/ISPS applied to commercial-yacht management (mini-ISM per tonnage)
Indicative experience
Yacht sea time per the MCA scheme between OOW and Chief Mate (miles and days per the current programme — verify); industry practice adds Med/Caribbean seasons with intense charter rotations.
Observations
The MCA yacht route: Yachtmaster Offshore/Ocean → OOW (Yachts) → Chief Mate 3,000 GT → Master (Yachts) 500/3,000 GT. Spanish recreational titles (PER/PY/CY) do not cross-credit into this commercial ladder: they are parallel routes (see the explorer's frameworks).
What this role does
Second in command of commercial yachts and superyachts under MCA-scheme flags: runs the deck and its team, plans passages and manoeuvres with the captain, answers for stability, safety and security (SSO) and for the technical-aesthetic upkeep a superyacht standard demands. The bridge between the Yachtmaster ladder and command: the engine room of the step to Master 3,000 GT.
Typical watches
- Navigation guards + daily deck operational management
Key responsibilities
- Second in command of commercial yacht or private cruise ship; Replaces the Master in his absence.
- Daily management of deck maintenance, safety equipment and loading/stowage operations.
- Supervision of the safety program: drills, firefighting equipment and rescue systems.
- Watch planning and management of deck personnel.
- Responsible for the safety of passengers and cargo on commercial yachts.
- Operational coordination with the Chief Engineer and other departments.
Operational scope
- Commercial yachts and megayachts < 3,000 GT
- Unlimited navigation (Ocean)
- Sailing training ships and professional charter boats
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.