Yacht delivery captain licences: a quick reference

"What licence do I need to deliver yachts?" is the most common question we get from aspiring delivery captains. The honest answer is: it depends on the flag of the boat, the route, and whether you're being paid. Here's a region-by-region reference.

Europe and the Mediterranean

For non-commercial yachts under 24m, most flag states will accept an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Yachtmaster Ocean with a Commercial Endorsement. The endorsement requires:

A valid RYA Yachtmaster certification
ENG1 or equivalent seafarer medical
STCW Basic Safety Training (Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Firefighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities)
Professional Practices and Responsibilities (PPR) course

For commercial yachts over 24m or under MCA code, you typically need a Master Yachts 200 (MY200) or higher — that's a real career path, not a weekend course.

United States

The US Coast Guard runs a separate licensing system. For paid deliveries of US-flagged vessels with paying guests, you need a USCG Master Mariner credential, sized by tonnage and waters (e.g., 100-ton Near Coastal, 200-ton Master Oceans).

The trick: if you're delivering a yacht without paying passengers, you often don't need a US licence at all — you're a "casual operator." But the moment money changes hands for the delivery service, USCG rules apply.

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a patchwork. Most charter destinations (BVI, USVI, Antigua) require a Yachtmaster Commercial or USCG equivalent for charter operations. For private deliveries between islands, the flag of the boat determines the licence requirement.

What every delivery captain needs regardless of region

STCW Basic Safety Training — non-negotiable on commercial vessels
Seafarer medical (ENG1, OUPV-equivalent, or local equivalent)
VHF Radio Operator's Certificate (LRC or DSC at minimum)
First aid certification (advanced level for offshore work)
A passport with 12+ months validity — yes, captains get turned away at borders for this

Insurance is the silent gatekeeper

Owners' insurance policies usually specify minimum experience levels for paid captains. A common phrasing: "Master must hold Yachtmaster Ocean and 25,000 NM logged, or equivalent." Without the documents to back it up, you might be qualified — but uninsurable.

Building toward a real career

The fastest path to commanding 24m+ commercial yachts is the MCA route: Yachtmaster Offshore → Yachtmaster Ocean → Master Yachts 200 → Master Yachts 500. Most large delivery skippers go this way over five to ten years of steady miles.

Browse gigs by required licence

Many Boat Gigs postings spell out the required certs in the description. Use the search at /gigs to filter for "Yachtmaster Ocean" or "USCG Master" and you'll surface the gigs that match your paperwork.