To work on commercial yachts you need full STCW-95 documentation ( it's an insurance requirement ). On private yachts the required documentation depends on what kind of insurance the yacht owner has. STCW-95 requirements and training courses for yachts in Australia.

Canada and USA do not recognize licenses / certificates from other countries, other countries generally accept UK MCA approved certificates. Get International overview of yachting certificates required.

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The minimum certification requirement rules depends on country where the yacht is registered ("Flag State"), insurance companies can then impose more strict requirements. STCW doesn't apply as such on pleasure yachts less than 24 metres length at the waterline and not engaged in commercial trade.

Superyachts are those from 24 metres to about 50 metres long at the waterline (about 80 to 165 feet). Longer than that, they are usually called Mega Yachts.

When passenger accommodation exceeds 12 or where the tonnage is over 3.000 grt [ or engine power over 3.000 KW ] the International manning requirements ( STCW-95 ) come into force and only certified personnel are allowed to work onboard. Most Mega Yachts are in this class. See for more information: Shiptalk Newsletter: Luxury Yacht Industry, July 2007. Furthermore, commercially registered yachts of 500 grt and above come also under the ISPS-code.

To get the necessary STCW certification you can, for instance, enrol at a seamen's vocational school for their 6-9 months "Seafarer's Basic Course". Alternately you can choose some much shorter courses especially modified for super- and mega yachts, some of which are listed below.

When you choose the shorter yacht or superyacht STCW training course, check the training school / training centre is accredited by MCA ( Maritime and Coastal Agency, UK ). If it's not, you must later renew your course at a school that has that accreditation and you get extra expenses. The schools offering training for yachts are in most countries not controlled by that country's Maritime Authority. The schools for "merchant ship" training are, on the contrary, all under respective Maritime Authority supervision.

On Superyachts and Mega Yachts the rules about colour blindness for deck crew come into force with the application of STCW-95.