Boating Education Courses - RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore

Coastguard Boating Education administers Certificates of Competence and examines candidates on behalf of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). Examiners are independent assessors and cannot be involved in the training of candidates.

Examination: Practical. Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability as a skipper of an offshore cruising yacht, and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all courses except Yachtmaster Ocean.
Cost: NZ $485.00
Prerequisites:  Experience equivalent to 50 days (2,500 miles) including at least 5 passages over 60 miles, 2 overnight and 2 as skipper, Marine Radio Operators Qualification and current First Aid Certificate.

Vessel: Candidates need to provide a boat for practical examinations. Alternatively this can be arranged through an RYA Training Centre.

Commercial Endorsements

RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence with a commercial endorsement can be used for vessels up to 200GT and as an entry into Megayacht qualifications.

Cost: NZ $70

Renewal: Up to five years.

1. STCW 95 Commercial Endorsement

Available as an endorsement to Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence. Candidates will need to supply the following paperwork:

• STCW Personal Survival Techniques: STCW A-V1/1-1 or RYA Sea Survival
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities: STCW A-V1/1-4
• STCW Elementary First Aid: STCW A-V1/1-2
• STCW Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention: STCW A-V1/1-2
• A Seafarers Medical Certificate ENG 1; ML 5; or a Maritime New Zealand Medical Certificate. 
  
  

2. RYA/MCA Commercial Endorsement

Available as an endorsement to RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence; Yachtmaster Coastal; Yachtmaster Offshore; Yachtmaster Ocean; and Advanced Powerboat. Candidates will need to supply the following paperwork:

• A Seafarers Medical Certificate ENG 1; ML 5; or a Maritime New Zealand Medical Certificate.
• A Sea Survival Certificate; STCW; Coastguard Boating Education Advanced Sea Survival Certificate; or an RYA Sea Survival certificate. 
  

MCA Guidance Notes regarding RYA certificates of competence and commercial endorsements
MCA MGN 280 covers the certification required to operate commercially operated pleasure and other small vessels (both sail & power) up to 24m. The MCA utilise seven categories/areas of operation. Manning (skipper certification required) is listed in Table 1 (P.124), with full detail in Annex 3 (P.118 – 126).

MCA MSN 1802 (M) pertains to larger commercially operated yachts/pleasure vessels (sail & power) over 24m, up to 3,000gt.
Annex A (P.19) details the manning scale for sail & motor yachts. Yachtmaster Offshore with a commercial endorsement with a Yachtmaster Coastal (previously termed ‘Coastal Skipper’) as Mate allows the holder to act as Master of a sail or power yacht up to 200gt, up to 150nm from a safe haven.

MCA Links:
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mgn_280-2.pdf
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/a7_1802_final-2.pdf

Seafarers Medical Certificate

To obtain a ENG 1 or an ML 5 contact:

Parnell Medical Centre
1st Floor
82B Gladstone Road
Parnell
Auckland 1052
Phone: (09) 377 4427
Fax: (09) 377 4429
Email: reception@parnellmedical.co.nz

Maritime New Zealand Medical Certificate

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