The IYT Master of Yachts 200 Ton certifications are the most universally accepted certificates for the operation of commercial yachts up to a specified tonnage.

The modules are professional level and are designed to provide the highest standard of maritime education.

There are three MCA Approved MASTER OF YACHTS 200 Ton courses:

• Master of Yachts 200 Tons Mate (Coastal) for first mate of a Yacht under 200 Tons.
• Master of Yachts 200T Limited (Offshore)
• Master of Yachts 200 Tons Unlimited (Ocean) – for command of a Yacht up to 200 Tons unlimited oceans. (Unavailable at this time with MSWI)

The IYT Master of Yachts certificates are currently accepted for commercial use by 25 different governing bodies including the MCA – USCG and Marshall Islands.

MASTER OF YACHTS qualifications are recognized by marine insurance providers and all major charter companies.

Candidates for MASTER OF YACHTS 200 Ton certifications must meet minimum sea time requirements as specified below and be able to pass the required medical exam.

Must have logged 30 days and 800 miles at sea as crew and 2 days and 12 night hours underway as watch-leader/Skipper as well as 30 days on board a yacht at sea as an active crew member. For the purpose of this requirement, a day is defined as a period of 24 consecutive hours. Parts of a day may be included in this total. A day is not invalidated by a candidate leaving the yacht for a few hours during a cruise. The term “at sea” is defined as being on a vessel outside of any harbor – natural or artificial – in which a cruising yacht could secure or anchor for a prolonged period of time.

A valid Passport is needed for several nationalities to enter or visit St. Maarten and/or other Islands and some nationalities need also a Visa.

• This certificate allows you to work as:
• Master of 200 ton vessel up to 150 nautical miles offshore
• Chief Mate of 500 ton vessel up to 150 nautical miles offshore
• Chief Mate of 200 ton vessel all oceans
• OOW (Officer of the Watch) of a 500 ton vessel all oceans.

Minimum entry requirements:

• One must hold or obtain a Marine Communications VHF-SRC Radio Operators certificate.
• One must hold or obtain all STCW’95 certificates. STCW certificates must be valid (not expired). If STCW Safety Training is taken after January 1, 2014 the new Proficiency in Maritime Security Awareness is also required.
• Candidates must provide documented evidence of boating experience as stated below:
  • Logged 50 days on board a yacht at sea as an active crew member on watch. For the purpose of this requirement, a day is defined as a period of 24 consecutive hours. The term “at sea” is defined as being on a vessel outside of any harbour – natural or artificial – in which a cruising yacht could secure or anchor for a prolonged period of time.
  • Logged 3,000 miles in a yacht while cruising at sea (power or sail). This must be on genuine cruises or passages, not short day trips. The candidate must have considerable time of actual vessel handling.
  • Thirty hours on watch at night underway as an active member of a yacht’s crew.
• A current medical fitness examination and a colour blindness eyesight examination, which allows the participant to safely perform the relevant duties on a yacht. Medical/eyesight examinations are valid for a period of two years.

IYT will also accept military letters stating service days for sea time, however, each will be reviewed to ensure they have sufficient experience for the level of certificate they are requesting.

Please Note: A candidate may take both endorsements, however, it is highly recommended that he or she have some hands-on practical experience and sea time on both power and sailing vessels before attempting the exam. The practical exam is not the forum for learning basic skills. Candidates may sit the shore-based course prior to having all the above requirements. Verification of the above yachting experience must be original and signed by the skipper of the yacht in which the candidate was sailing. Candidates claiming sea time during times when they were acting as skipper may sign their own entries but independent verification may be required.

The program consists of a theory course and a liveaboard practical course. Each course stands alone and can be taken individually, however, the theory course must be successfully completed prior to taking the practical liveaboard course. They do not necessarily have to be completed in immediate succession, however, it is recommended in order to retain as much information before the final on-board examination.

The theory course is a six-day comprehensive high-level shore based course with assessment papers and written examinations. Candidates are advised that a considerable amount of private study and varied cruising experience is required in addition to the formal instruction provided.
The liveaboard (power or sail) practical course is a five-day course covering seamanship skills including ability to command and situational awareness. As fatigue can adversely affect one’s ability to perform/command, the liveaboard aspect of the course is critical to ensuring candidates are indeed prepared to command. This will be a preparation course for your final IYT Master of Yachts Limited Examination.

Course Syllabus:

• Chartwork instruments
• Charts, latitude and longitude
• Distance, speed, time & direction
• The magnetic compass, variation& deviation
• Position lines and position fixes
• Dead reckoning and estimated positions
• Tides
• Currents
• Course to steer to counteract a current
• Meteorology
• Pilotage
• Passage planning
• Electronic navigation aids
• International regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)
• Ships construction
• Ship stability & drydocking
• Ropework
• Towing
• Anchoring
• Emergency procedures
• Ships power plant
• General maritime law