Deck Progression to Yacht Unlimited CoC’s - It’s Official!
By: Fred (but mainly Emma)
The MCA has officially confirmed what many in our industry have been waiting for - YACHT Unlimited Certificates of Competency.
This long-anticipated change finally gives a clear path of progression beyond Master 3000gt yacht, without having to step sideways into the commercial world
For years, yacht crew aiming higher than M3000gt hit a wall - not because of their skills, but because of how the system was built. The original Large Yacht Code set an upper operational limit of 3000gt, and the certification structure mirrored that restriction.
When LY3 replaced LY2 in 2013, the upper limit was removed - yet the qualifications themselves didn’t evolve to match. This meant that even as private yachts grew well beyond 3000gt, officers were still capped by legacy rules. To move onto larger vessels, they had to switch to the commercial certification system - tankers, cargo ships etc - often starting again from scratch. Hard when the boss keeps buying bigger boats.
Now that is changing
At this year’s Sea Changes Forum during the Monaco Boat Show (25th Sept 2025), Captain Ajit Jacob, the MCA’s Chief Examiner, officially unveiled the new Yacht Unlimited CoC pathway.
For those who thought their studying days were over with their M3000, it might be time to dust off those old notes!
This new certification is a game-changer, potentially opening doors to even larger vessels without the need for a full commercial ticket.
This development follows early hints from last year’s forum, when I first wrote about the MCA’s plans for a “Master of Yachts Unlimited”. Back then it was just talk, now it’s official policy under the Certification, Training & Modernisation programme.
What It means
The new Chief Mate Yacht Unlimited and Master Yacht Unlimited will:
Provide a clear progression route beyond M3000 yacht.
Maintain STCW compliance and international recognition.
Recognise the specific needs of large yacht operations, without forcing crew into the commercial sector.
So When will this happen?
A working group of industry stakeholders is now finalising the details. The updated requirements will be amended in MSN 1858 and 1859 - targeted for release in April 2026.
Stand by for updates once the new MSN is amended. To be continued………..
