If you look at yacht crew job adverts for long enough, two abbreviations appear in almost every one: STCW and ENG1. They are the minimum paperwork that lets a captain put you to work on board. This guide explains what each one is, what is involved in getting it, how long it lasts and which further certificates build on it.
Rules are set by international conventions and by each flag state, and details can change. Always confirm current requirements with your training provider, your doctor, or the maritime administration of the flag you will work under.
What STCW is
STCW stands for the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. It is an International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention, first adopted in 1978 and significantly revised in 2010 by the Manila amendments. It sets minimum training and competence standards for people working at sea, from new crew to masters and chief engineers.
When yacht crew say "my STCW", they usually mean STCW Basic Safety Training, the entry-level safety course that every seafarer with designated safety duties must complete. Higher STCW certificates of competency, for officers and engineers, build on it later.
What Basic Safety Training covers
Basic Safety Training is normally taught as a package of modules over about five days. The standard modules are:
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST): abandoning ship, using life jackets and immersion suits, boarding life rafts, survival in the water, and rescue by helicopter or vessel. Expect a pool session.
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF): how fires start and spread on board, extinguishers, breathing apparatus and practical firefighting in a training facility.
- Elementary First Aid (EFA): assessing a casualty, resuscitation, bleeding, burns, fractures and other basic first aid at sea.
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (PSSR): safe working practices, emergency procedures, pollution prevention, communication and working well with other crew.
Most schools also include Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA), which covers basic maritime security and the ship security plan. It is a separate certificate in the rules, but it is commonly booked together with the four modules above.
Choosing a training centre
Book with a centre approved by a recognised maritime administration. Many yacht crew train at centres approved by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) because the UK and its Red Ensign registers are widely used for large yachts, and MCA approval is well recognised. Prices vary between countries and schools, and some offer packages with extra courses at a discount. Compare what is included before you pay.
How long STCW Basic Safety Training lasts
This is the part that confuses people most. Not every module expires in the same way.
| Module | Refresher needed? |
|---|---|
| Personal Survival Techniques | Yes, proof of continued competence every five years |
| Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting | Yes, proof of continued competence every five years |
| Elementary First Aid | Generally no refresher required by STCW |
| Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities | Generally no refresher required by STCW |
| Proficiency in Security Awareness | No refresher required |
In practice this means booking a short STCW refresher course for PST and FPFF before your five years are up. Some employers and flag states may ask for more, so check the requirements for your position.
What the ENG1 is
The ENG1 is a seafarer medical fitness certificate issued by doctors approved by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It confirms that you are fit to work at sea and to carry out emergency duties. It is the medical most yachts ask for by name, because so many large yachts fly a Red Ensign flag.
Some flag states and employers accept equivalent seafarer medicals from other countries. The MCA also publishes a list of countries whose seafarer medicals it accepts as equivalent. If your aim is yacht work in general, the ENG1 is the safest choice.
What happens at the ENG1 examination
You book an appointment with an MCA-approved doctor and bring photo ID, any glasses or contact lenses you use, and information about medication and your medical history. The doctor checks things like:
- Eyesight, including colour vision for some roles
- Hearing
- Blood pressure, heart and lungs
- A urine test
- Your medical history, including conditions that might be a problem when you are far from medical care
The doctor may issue an unrestricted certificate, a certificate with restrictions (for example limited to certain waters or duties), a temporary failure while you get treatment or tests, or a permanent failure. If you disagree with the result, there is a process to ask for a review by an independent medical referee. The MCA sets a maximum fee that approved doctors can charge, so check the current fee on the UK government website before you book.
How long the ENG1 lasts
An ENG1 is valid for a maximum of two years, and for a maximum of one year for seafarers under 18. The doctor can issue it for a shorter period if your health needs to be reviewed sooner. Many crew renew a few weeks before expiry so they are never without a valid medical.
ENG1 versus ML5
You may also see the ML5, a less detailed medical report used for some small commercial vessels. It is not a replacement for the ENG1 on most superyachts. If in doubt, take the ENG1.
In which order should you do them?
Most people do the ENG1 first. It is cheaper and quicker than a five-day course, and if it reveals a health issue you can deal with it before spending money on training and travel. Once you have passed, book Basic Safety Training.
Courses that build on STCW, by department
Once your basics are done, these are the qualifications crew commonly add as their career develops. Requirements depend on the yacht's size, flag and use, so treat this as an overview, not a checklist.
Deck
- A tender or powerboat driving qualification, such as the RYA Powerboat Level 2
- VHF radio operator certificate, and later GMDSS qualifications
- Yachtmaster qualifications, which can lead to officer certificates of competency on yachts, such as Officer of the Watch and later Master
Interior
- Food safety and hygiene certificates
- Silver service, wine and barista courses
- Housekeeping and laundry courses for luxury fabrics
- Guest services and management training for chief stew roles
Galley
- Food safety qualifications appropriate for a ship's cook
- A Ship's Cook Certificate, which may be needed where the Maritime Labour Convention requires a fully qualified cook on board
Engineering
- An Approved Engine Course (AEC), the usual first step for yacht engineers
- Engineer certificates of competency for yachts, building towards Chief Engineer
Security and first aid
- Designated Security Duties (DSD) or Ship Security Officer training for crew with security roles
- Medical First Aid or Medical Care courses for officers responsible for medical care on board
Keeping your certificates in order
Certificates are only useful if you can produce them quickly. Captains and management companies will ask for copies before you join, and flag state inspectors can ask to see originals on board.
- Keep originals safe and dry, and carry them when you travel to join a yacht.
- Keep clear scans of everything in one place.
- Note every expiry date and refresh in good time.
- Put the key dates on your CV, for example "ENG1 valid until March 2028".
On HullpinCrew you can upload your certificates to your profile and keep track of what you hold. Create a free crew profile and add your STCW and ENG1 details so employers can see you are ready to join.
Summary
STCW Basic Safety Training proves you can keep yourself and others safe at sea. The ENG1 proves you are medically fit to be there. Together they are the entry ticket to yacht work. Do the medical first, train at an approved centre, keep track of refreshers, and add department-specific courses as your career grows.
Next, read how to get a job on a superyacht with no experience for the rest of the journey to your first contract.
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