1 October 2025
On the 29th of September, the British Marine Technical team attended the MCA’s Large Yacht Qualification Panel held at the MCA’s Southampton Headquarters.
The MCA presented on several changes that they have made and are looking to make to the available Large Yacht Qualifications structure and qualification pathways:
In September, the MCA implemented the Cadet Training and Modernisation CT&M programme, which was launched in 2021 with the following now in play:
- Switch from Paper Charts to ECDIS.
- Adoption of simulator training in lieu of actual sea service with a ratio of 1:3 up to a maximum of 1 month.
- Introduction of data skills training and cybersecurity training.
- Workshops now incorporate modern automation and technology.
- Simulator-based learning is being integrated with core subjects like mechanics and thermodynamics to emphasise the application of knowledge.
With Superyachts now much larger in tonnage continuing to be produced and developed, the industry has long requested a pathway for those with large yacht qualifications, which have been capped at 3000GT, to gain unlimited CoC’s without the need to effectively start their careers from the beginning again. The MCA have listened and further to the implementation of the above, the MCA are now looking at creating a direct pathway for those with the current Yacht Qualifications capped at 3000GT to gain unlimited Certificates of Competency, including for Masters, chief mates and engineering.
The MCA have started the work and has an outline pathway created, and will now be working with industry through dedicated working groups to finalise these new pathways with expected implementation in the first half of 2026.
For more information, please contact the technical team via technical@britishmarine.co.uk.