Key takeaways
- ✓Both start with STCW Basic Safety Training and a seafarer medical.
- ✓The merchant navy has a structured route through cadetships and certificates of competency.
- ✓Yachting is easier to enter with short courses, but progression depends on experience and further certificates.
- ✓Sea time from both can count towards professional certificates — keep good records either way.
Side by side
| Yachting | Merchant navy | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical entry | Short courses (STCW Basic Safety, medical) and a first job as deckhand or steward/ess | Cadetship or officer training programme, or entry as a rating |
| Work | Guest service, presentation, maintenance, water sports, navigation | Cargo operations, navigation, engineering, maintenance |
| Crew size | Small to medium crews, often close-knit | Larger, more hierarchical crews |
| Contracts | Permanent, seasonal or rotational; private or charter | Usually rotational contracts set by the company |
| Progression | Experience plus yacht certificates (e.g. Yachtmaster, OOW (Yacht), AEC and up) | Certificates of competency (OOW, Chief Mate, Master; engineering grades) |
| Moving ashore | Yacht management, brokerage, charter, training, crew agencies | Superintendent, marine operations, ports, surveying, chartering |
Who tends to enjoy yachting
- •People with hospitality, service or water sports backgrounds
- •Those who want to start quickly with short courses
- •Crew who like smaller teams and changing destinations
Who tends to enjoy the merchant navy
- •People who want a structured, long-term professional career
- •Those interested in navigation, engineering and large ships
- •Crew who prefer clear rotations and company career paths
Switching between them
Crew do move both ways. Merchant officers bring valuable certificates and experience to large yachts, and yacht crew can build towards professional certificates. In both directions the key is documented sea time and certificates recognised by the flag state — check the recognition rules with the maritime authority before you plan a switch.
Maritime Delivery covers both worlds: yacht deliveries and crew jobs, commercial seafarer jobs and a weekly scanner with shore-based roles — with one verified profile for all of them.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easier to get into yachting or the merchant navy?+
Yachting is usually quicker to enter: with STCW Basic Safety Training and a seafarer medical you can apply for entry-level jobs. The merchant navy usually involves a longer officer training programme or cadetship, which leads to recognised certificates of competency.
Can I move from the merchant navy to yachts?+
Yes. Many merchant officers and engineers move to large yachts. Check which of your certificates the yacht’s flag state recognises and whether you need any yacht-specific training.
Does yacht sea time count for professional certificates?+
It can, if it is properly documented and meets the requirements of the certificate and the issuing authority. Keep a logbook and get your sea time signed off by the master.
Sources
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