Commercial Endorsement
Those who wish to work as a professional skipper onboard a vessel will need to apply for an RYA Commercial Endorsement.
What Is The RYA Commercial Endorsement?
The commercial endorsement is a variations process carried out by the RYA and MCA. Once a skipper meets the requirements set out by MCA. The skipper will receive a commercial endorsement of their skipper’s qualifications.
The commercial endorsement allows the holder to work as a skipper on commercial British flagged vessels that take paying passengers, or is paid to carry out commercial operations.
It is a legal requirement to hold a commercial endorsement if you intend to skipper a commercial vessel or receive payment to skipper a vessel.
Once you hold the required licence to drive a vessel, you will need to prove you have the following qualifications.
- RYA or STCW first aid certificate
- ENG1 Or ML5 medical certificate
- RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques
- Professional Practices and Responsibilities PPR
- VHF Short range certificate
What Qualifications Can Be Commercially Endorsed?
The following qualifications can be commercially endorsed:
- RYA Powerboat level 2
- RYA Day Skipper Practical (power or sail). You must also hold a Yachtmaster Offshore/Coastal Skipper Theory or Day Skipper Theory certificate in addition to this.
- RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence
- RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
- RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence
While each qualification or Certificate of Competence will allow the holder to carry out different types of work, the process for commercially endorsing any of the above MCA / RYA qualifications or Certificates of Competence is the same.
