REQUIREMENTS · ENGINEERING
What Engineering crew need on paper
Engineering runs 4 ranks in this table, starting at junior, third or fourth engineer. The entry rank is set out in full below, and every rank above it has a page of its own. All of them carry the basics on top of what is listed for the rank.
START HERE
Junior, third or fourth engineer
The unlicensed entry rank in the engine room, where a trade background gets you looked at and one short course gets you aboard. Plus the basics.
MUST HAVE
Nothing at this rank beyond the basics.
EXPECTED
- Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1)course
- VALID
- No expiry.
- UNLOCKS
- The engine room. It is described as the base minimum for superyacht engineers and it is where the engineering ladder starts.
SOURCE bluewateryachting.com 19.08.2026
NICE TO HAVE
- Diesel, automotive, electrical or ex military engineering trade backgroundadmin
- VALID
- No expiry.
- UNLOCKS
- The informal filter captains apply at junior engineer level. It does not replace AEC1, STCW basics or an ENG1.
SOURCE superyachtcontent.com 19.08.2026
MORE RANKS IN THIS DEPARTMENT
FROM THE BRIDGE
- The Y1 to Y4 yacht engineer route closed to new entrants on 31 December 2022, and new engineers now go through the Small Vessel structure in MSN 1904.
- Many yachts run an electrical specialist under the ETO job title without the formal certificate, which is allowed when no ETO is listed on the Safe Manning Document.
- High voltage training only bites when the vessel generates or distributes over 1000 volts, so it is a vessel fact rather than a rank requirement.