REQUIREMENTS · DECK · MID
What a Bosun needs on paper (2026)
Runs the deck team, the tenders and the toys, and it is a supervisory rating rather than an officer rank so there is no certificate of competency attached. Plus the basics.
TABLE COMPILED 19.08.2026
MUST HAVE
Nothing at this rank beyond the basics.
EXPECTED
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)CoP
- VALID
- No expiry, but it must be held for at least 18 months before an OOW Yachts CoC can be issued.
- UNLOCKS
- Sitting the Officer of the Watch certificate. It is the gate between rating and officer.
SOURCE gov.uk 19.08.2026
- RYA Powerboat Level 2 with Commercial Endorsementcourse
- VALID
- No fixed expiry. The commercial endorsement depends on a current medical and certificate status.
- UNLOCKS
- Driving the tender and running guests ashore, which is most of a junior deck day.
SOURCE superyachtpwc.com 19.08.2026
NICE TO HAVE
- RYA Personal Watercraft Proficiencycourse
- VALID
- No fixed expiry.
- UNLOCKS
- Running the jet skis, and it is the prerequisite for the PWC Instructor ticket.
SOURCE superyachtpwc.com 19.08.2026
- PADI Divemaster or Instructorcourse
- VALID
- Lifetime for the underlying certification. Professional ratings depend on the agency's own renewal terms, which were not checked this pass.
- UNLOCKS
- Diving with guests as the professional in charge. Instructors diving with guests report GBP 500 to 1,000 per day on top of salary.
SOURCE yachtlycrew.com 19.08.2026
Basics for everyone
The same list on every rank page, because every rank carries it.
MUST HAVE
- STCW Basic Safety Training (PST, FPFF, EFA, PSSR)CoP
- VALID
- PST and FPFF revalidate every 5 years. Treat EFA and PSSR as the same 5 year cycle.
- UNLOCKS
- Any paid job on a commercial or private yacht. No captain signs anyone on without it.
SOURCE certvaultapp.com 19.08.2026
- Security Awareness (STCW A-VI/6) or Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)CoP
- VALID
- MCA guidance states no mandatory expiry for Security Awareness. Many schools sell PDSD on a 5 year cycle. Treat as 5 years.
- UNLOCKS
- Serving on an ISPS Code vessel, and holding an actual security duty under the ship security plan.
SOURCE certifiedtraining.co.za 19.08.2026
- ENG1 seafarer medical certificate, or a flag accepted equivalentmedical
- VALID
- 2 years maximum for adults. 1 year for ages 16 to 18. Can be issued for a shorter period.
- UNLOCKS
- Being fit to join. It is the MLC Regulation 1.2 medical every seafarer must hold before starting work, and it gates every MCA certificate of competency.
SOURCE ukshipregister.co.uk 19.08.2026
- Passportidentity
- VALID
- Commonly 5 or 10 years by issuing state. Many countries require 6 months validity remaining at entry, plus 1 to 2 blank pages.
- UNLOCKS
- Crossing every border the boat crosses, and every flight taken to join or leave a boat.
SOURCE cbp.gov 19.08.2026
- US B1/B2 visatravelCONDITIONAL
- VALID
- Stamp valid up to 10 years depending on reciprocity. Each stay is capped by the I-94, typically 6 months.
- UNLOCKS
- Entering US waters aboard the yacht, and flying in to join a boat in the United States.
SOURCE dockwalk.com 19.08.2026
- Seaman's discharge book or approved service record bookadmin
- VALID
- No expiry. Entries are added per voyage.
- UNLOCKS
- A verifiable sign on and sign off record, which is the evidence every certificate of competency application is built on, and the document Spanish port immigration now stamps.
SOURCE evolutionagents.com 19.08.2026
- MLC Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA)admin
- VALID
- Runs for the length of the contract stated in it. No separate renewal.
- UNLOCKS
- Legal employment on board. Port State Control checks for a valid SEA on every seafarer and a missing one is a named common deficiency.
SOURCE edumaritime.net 19.08.2026
- Sea service testimonials and Training Record Book (TRB)adminCONDITIONAL
- VALID
- Testimonials must cover the last 12 months of service. The TRB is filled in over roughly 1 to 3 years and presented at the oral exam.
- UNLOCKS
- Progression to any certificate of competency. Without it the sea time does not count.
SOURCE gov.uk 19.08.2026
- Yellow fever vaccination certificatemedicalCONDITIONAL
- VALID
- Valid for the life of the person vaccinated, since the WHO amendment to International Health Regulations Annex 7 on 11 July 2016. No booster required.
- UNLOCKS
- Going ashore in countries that require proof of vaccination for arrivals from at risk countries, among them Brazil, Colombia and Peru.
SOURCE who.int 19.08.2026
- Flag state endorsement of a certificate of competencyendorsementCONDITIONAL
- VALID
- Tied to the underlying CoC. Malta endorsements revalidate on the same 5 year cycle as the CoC. Marshall Islands certificates issued by examination are valid 5 years and a temporary Certificate of Receipt of Application is valid 90 days. Cayman validity is unverified beyond tracking the CoC.
- UNLOCKS
- Serving on that flag's vessels in that rank. It is a separate document from the CoC and the CoC alone is not enough.
SOURCE cishipping.com 19.08.2026
EXPECTED
- Schengen Seaman Short Stay (Type C) visatravelCONDITIONAL
- VALID
- 1 to 5 years depending on contract and prior Schengen visa history. Entries capped at 90 days in any rolling 180 day period.
- UNLOCKS
- Personal travel and time ashore in the Schengen area for crew who are not Schengen nationals.
SOURCE smartmovecrew.com 19.08.2026
- References from previous captains or heads of departmentadmin
- VALID
- No expiry, but agencies weigh recency more heavily than count.
- UNLOCKS
- Getting past the agency shortlist. It is not a legal requirement anywhere.
SOURCE dockwalk.com 19.08.2026
YOUR GAP LIST
Tick what you already hold. The list below updates as you go.
Mandatory and expected rows only. Nice to have rows are on the list above.
The ticks stay in this browser. Nothing is sent anywhere and no account is needed.
Every document shows its expiry date. Pro accounts get an email before anything runs out.
QUESTIONS
Does ENG1 seafarer medical certificate, or a flag accepted equivalent expire?
2 years maximum for adults. 1 year for ages 16 to 18. Can be issued for a shorter period.
Does Sea service testimonials and Training Record Book (TRB) expire?
Testimonials must cover the last 12 months of service. The TRB is filled in over roughly 1 to 3 years and presented at the oral exam.
What catches deck crew out?
Efficient Deck Hand has to be held for at least eighteen months before an officer of the watch certificate can be issued, so the clock starts long before the exam. A new Yacht Unlimited route opened on 18 May 2026 and it needs no cargo ship sea time, which removes the old reason to leave yachting for a merchant ticket. A certificate issued after 1 January 2017 without ECDIS carries a negative endorsement, so skipping the five day course marks the certificate itself.