The Royal Yachting Association

Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1995

STCW is an international agreement by the maritime nations to mutually accept certain seafaring qualifications.

On British flagged vessels operating in the UK or in many non-UK ports, an RYA certificate of competence with a standard commercial endorsement fulfils all legal requirements.

However, some marine administrations prefer additional STCW qualifications.

Holders of commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore and Yachtmaster® Ocean certificates of competence can obtain an additional endorsement to comply with STCW 95 if they hold the following certificates:

STCW personal safety and social responsibilities (half a day)
STCW elementary first aid (one day)
STCW fire fighting and fire prevention (2 days)

If you don't already hold the standard commercial endorsement, you will also be required to hold a sea survival certificate - either the RYA's one day Basic Sea Survival certificate, or the STCW Personal Survival Techniques certificates (one and half days).

RYA training centres offering STCW courses are shown in the link above.

Click on 'commercial endorsements' on the left for information on how to apply for a commercial endorsement.

MCA certificates
MCA Master of Coded vessels less than 200gt and other higher large yacht MCA qualifications are STCW accredited.