RYA Yachtmaster Commercial vs USCG Captains 200 gt

[unbusted67]

I have a friend in the marine industry who swears up and down that you don’t need a yachtmaster cert to work internationally. He’s driven yachts around the world. His justification was that the 200gt has similar qualifications to other international licensure at 500gt and that his employers’ insurance only required his US masters license.

Is this true or was he just skirting regs?

Under what circumstances would it make sense for a US captain to get the yachtmaster cert?

[Pandor]

Your friend isn’t necessarily wrong. But there are several various endorsements USCG issues, so depending on which of those he has, he may or may not be legitimate. In my experience, insurance requirements are generally much more lenient than official government regulations. In order to be accepted internationally, a USCG issued license generally must have an ocean route (as opposed to the more common inland or near coastal) and must include the appropriate international STCW endorsements.

In the case of a 200 or 500 GRT CG license, it would also need to include the equivalent international endorsement of II/3 – Master and OICNW < 500GT

With the appropriate endorsements, a USCG license is more valuable than a yachtmaster since the U.S. version is not trade-restricted to only yachts.

[Zanshin]

When outside of the USA it is safe to state that generally, when a captain gets a written application from 2 individuals that are almost identical but one has a USCG 200GT endorsement versus a yachtmaster offshore commercial endorsement they will prefer the latter. Not necessarily because it is better - but the yachtmaster certification is the internationally best-known one.

[Uricanejack]

Depends where you want to work.
If you are American and you want to find work in America an American Territory or internationally on an American Vessel you will need an American certificate.

American certificates are well recognised. For an American a YM is mostly just not valid. So kind of pointless.

A YM is a lot easier to get. So if you want to work in or on vessels flagged in a Tin Pot Little Ex European country. Its overseas territory or associated flags of convenience you may find the YM is more widely accepted.

You can get a YM with minimal actual experience on average boats of 30 to 40 ft boat. You don’t need to write any exams. You will only have to take a practical exam on a sailing school boat.

So if you are an American who doesn’t have the required documented seatime for an American STCW 200T certificate.
The YM appears to make a lot of sense. Just be aware the YM is not valid on a US vessel.

If you happen to be from a Tin Pot Little ex European Country.
Obviously getting some form of YM makes much more sense.

[barnakiel]

You do not need any licenses to work. But you need them to work on any commercial craft (e.g. charter).


I found that in the latter case, you actually want to have commercial grade, not leisure grade, licenses.


b.