Support and Advice are available to members and potential new members to provide professional advice and one-to-one support to seafarers in yachting. Support and Advice to obtaining your NOE, CoC, Action Plan, Revalidation and Conversion. The PYA offers one-to-one advice on matters relating to sea service, certification, and examination. The PYA encourages and mentors new entrants into professional yachting, as well as offers career advice to experienced crew. The PYA staff can assist crew at all stages of their careers, including updates on qualifications, career mapping, CV advice, help with applications for NoEs, Training Record Books, Action Plans, Registering into the SV Program, and more. If you need such support, then please contact the Antibes office to discuss your situation. Email: srb@pya.org Need to apply for an MCA NOE, CoC, Conversion, Flag State Endorsement, Revalidation, or Action Plan? We can help you. If you are a Full or Associate member, this service is included in your membership and you can contact the Sea Service team at srb@pya.org to help you. If you are in Antibes and would like to make an appointment, please contact srb@pya.org Send your applications to the Engineering team at the MCA. Processing times for new applications are: NOE - 35 days NOE Resits - 35 days CoC - 21 days Ratings - 35 days Existing applications on hold: If you have sent us additional documents following your application being assessed, they aim to reprocess your application within 7-10 days. Included in all paid memberships Become a member Career Advice & support Support and Advice are available to members and potential new members to provide professional advice and one-to-one support to seafarers in yachting. Support and Advice to obtaining your NOE, CoC, Action Plan, Revalidation and Conversion. To All services Discover our plans to get access to all the services we provide. Become a member

The MCA have updated their guidance for applicants looking to gain an UK OOW yachts Certificate of Competency (less than 3000 GT in an unlimited area, II/1 Certificate of Competency). © Mark Harpur MCA introduces new route for UK Officer of the Watch (OOW) yachts Certificate of Competency (CoC) To All news 5 December 2023 The MCA have updated their guidance for applicants looking to gain an UK OOW yachts Certificate of Competency (less than 3000 GT in an unlimited area, II/1 Certificate of Competency). As the size of superyacht vessels continues to grow, acquiring the necessary experience for certifications like the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or IYT Master of Yachts/Mate Limited 200 GT has become more challenging. In response, the MCA outlined MIN 580, providing a new avenue for individuals engaged on yachts exceeding 24 meters. This route allows them to secure an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC or IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate less than 200 GT CoC as an alternative option. The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC serves as a substitution for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC when applying for an OOW yachts certification, catering to vessels under 3000 GT, with an unlimited operational area, II/1 classification. Eligibility for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal examination entails candidates possessing 800 miles and 30 days onboard vessels less than 24m in length. However, completion of an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course can lessen this requirement to 400 miles and 20 days aboard vessels of any size. Securing an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC or an IYT Master of Yachts Coastal Mate less than 200 GT CoC allows entry into the EDH course. However, holders of the IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate less than 200 GT CoC are ineligible to acquire a UK Master, II/2, code vessels less than 200 GT CoC. The MCA acknowledges these certificates for manning UK-registered vessels in specific capacities and areas, albeit without assured international recognition. The parameters of this acknowledgement remain subject to continuous evaluation and approval by the MCA and the RYA/IYT. To get further details about the new route you can download the marine information note to find out more. The PYA is authorised by the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency to issue Yacht Rating Certificates which are needed by some vessels to comply with their safe manning requirements. If you are looking to get a Yacht Rating Certificate verified, explore our service , or as a full member you can access this for free. More news Sea Changes Forum 2026 highlights - Navigating the future of yachting The PYA Sea Changes Forum 2026, held on 24 September at the IHO in Monaco, brought together Flag States, maritime authorities and industry experts to address critical yachting updates, safety compliance, crew training and welfare, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Read more Sea Changes Forum 2026 The PYA is pleased to invite you to the 2026 Sea Changes Forum, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. Read more Upcoming Webinar: Water Safety On Yachts The Professional Yachting Association is pleased to invite yacht crew and industry professionals to an upcoming live webinar dedicated to Water Safety On Yachts, taking place on 10 June 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00CET. Led by recognised experts in water management and regulatory compliance, this session will explore the common bacteria found in vessel water systems, the risks they pose to crew, guests and operations, and the practical measures that can be implemented to maintain safe onboard water standards. Read more

The MCA have revealed the much anticipated new Yacht Manning Guidance framework which sets out the principles of Safe Manning and the new requirements for holders of the engineering Yacht Certificate of Competency. MCA publishes new Yacht Manning Guidance for engineers on yachts To All news 31 July 2023 The MCA have revealed the much anticipated new Yacht Manning Guidance framework which sets out the principles of Safe Manning and the new requirements for holders of the engineering Yacht Certificate of Competency. Following industry discussions, the MCA have unveiled their new guidance which includes the Manning Guidance tables that can now be reviewed by yacht crew. The new guidance is a must-read for crew and yacht owners across the industry, covering important areas including: The MCA and the UK’s approach to small yachts with large engines The requirements for additional endorsements Additional endorsements that can be requested by the holder of a Yacht CoC Additional endorsements that can be requested by the holder of a EOOW III/1 CoC Some vessels require crew to have a Yacht Rating Certificate as part of their safe manning requirements. Having this certificate can improve your chances of finding a job and ensure that you are able to access all the opportunities available to you in the yachting industry. “The position held onboard by the seafarer must be reflected by the capacity and limitations in their CoC. The exception is where a vessel is under 500 GT and not a passenger ship (where SOLAS and STCW do not apply) and that operate within the near-coastal area (up to 150 miles from a Safe Haven). For these non-Convention sized vessels, The MCA has allowed for holders of an MCA issued non-STCW certificates to take on the role as an Engineer Officer, as per the manning table.” – UK Maritime & Coast Guard Agency To access the latest guidance, you can download the document here . For further reading, visit the UK Government’s website here If you require assistance in obtaining a Yacht Rating Certificate, you can access our service to begin the process of verification or, as a full PYA member, you can make this request to us. More news Sea Changes Forum 2026 highlights - Navigating the future of yachting The PYA Sea Changes Forum 2026, held on 24 September at the IHO in Monaco, brought together Flag States, maritime authorities and industry experts to address critical yachting updates, safety compliance, crew training and welfare, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Read more Sea Changes Forum 2026 The PYA is pleased to invite you to the 2026 Sea Changes Forum, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. Read more Upcoming Webinar: Water Safety On Yachts The Professional Yachting Association is pleased to invite yacht crew and industry professionals to an upcoming live webinar dedicated to Water Safety On Yachts, taking place on 10 June 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00CET. Led by recognised experts in water management and regulatory compliance, this session will explore the common bacteria found in vessel water systems, the risks they pose to crew, guests and operations, and the practical measures that can be implemented to maintain safe onboard water standards. Read more

Watch CHIRP Maritime's latest video which explains how the use of mobile phones and other personal electronics can lead to serious safety issues whilst on duty. Mobile phone use onboard poses safety risk To All news 7 July 2021 It's no surprise that the use of mobile phones whilst operating a vehicle or machinery poses a major safety risk and has led to multiple accidents globally. CHIRP Maritime has created this safety initiative for the maritime industry, which is centred on the misuse of personal devices (mob phones, mp4 players, tablets) whilst on duty, that may cause a distraction with potentially serious safety implications. CHIRP Maritime's 'SEA OF DISTRACTIONS' video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JJcDNVIIXE More news Sea Changes Forum 2026 highlights - Navigating the future of yachting The PYA Sea Changes Forum 2026, held on 24 September at the IHO in Monaco, brought together Flag States, maritime authorities and industry experts to address critical yachting updates, safety compliance, crew training and welfare, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Read more Sea Changes Forum 2026 The PYA is pleased to invite you to the 2026 Sea Changes Forum, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. Read more Upcoming Webinar: Water Safety On Yachts The Professional Yachting Association is pleased to invite yacht crew and industry professionals to an upcoming live webinar dedicated to Water Safety On Yachts, taking place on 10 June 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00CET. Led by recognised experts in water management and regulatory compliance, this session will explore the common bacteria found in vessel water systems, the risks they pose to crew, guests and operations, and the practical measures that can be implemented to maintain safe onboard water standards. Read more

In 2019, the PYA was approached by more than 135 members of crew requesting urgent advice from the PYA Members’ Assistance Team, with numbers increasing in 2020. Many of the issues were contract-related or due to the crew member not having a contract at all, particularly those working on private yachts. PYA Crew Contracts Survey Report 2020 To All news 9 October 2020 In 2019, the PYA was approached by more than 135 members of crew requesting urgent advice from the PYA Members’ Assistance Team, with numbers increasing in 2020. Many of the issues were contract-related or due to the crew member not having a contract at all, particularly those working on private yachts. Due to the prevalence of these issues, we decided to conduct a survey and ask crew a range of questions to get a better understanding of how widespread the problems are within the industry, the types of contracts being issued, the quality of those contracts and the conditions under which they had been provided. Having no contract at all, or only an inadequate one, can result in misunderstandings on both sides. Sometimes crew don’t know what is expected of them or in some cases may end up being treated unfairly by their employers. The PYA’s aim is to promote the use of fair and equitable contracts which are adhered to, thus ensuring protection for both parties. Look at the results of the Crew Contract Survey: Crew Contracts Survey - EN .pdf Download PDF • 4.50MB More news Sea Changes Forum 2026 highlights - Navigating the future of yachting The PYA Sea Changes Forum 2026, held on 24 September at the IHO in Monaco, brought together Flag States, maritime authorities and industry experts to address critical yachting updates, safety compliance, crew training and welfare, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Read more Sea Changes Forum 2026 The PYA is pleased to invite you to the 2026 Sea Changes Forum, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. Read more Upcoming Webinar: Water Safety On Yachts The Professional Yachting Association is pleased to invite yacht crew and industry professionals to an upcoming live webinar dedicated to Water Safety On Yachts, taking place on 10 June 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00CET. Led by recognised experts in water management and regulatory compliance, this session will explore the common bacteria found in vessel water systems, the risks they pose to crew, guests and operations, and the practical measures that can be implemented to maintain safe onboard water standards. Read more

As everyone knows the IMO regulations for cyber risk management came into force on 1 January 2021. So what have we found so far? Cyber Security 2021 - The Story So Far To All news 11 May 2021 Without exception, every yacht we have visited this year had failed to take cyber security into consideration up until that point. Our findings are similar in each case although the overall awareness and competency of the crew varies from yacht to yacht. Read the full story More news Sea Changes Forum 2026 highlights - Navigating the future of yachting The PYA Sea Changes Forum 2026, held on 24 September at the IHO in Monaco, brought together Flag States, maritime authorities and industry experts to address critical yachting updates, safety compliance, crew training and welfare, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Read more Sea Changes Forum 2026 The PYA is pleased to invite you to the 2026 Sea Changes Forum, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. Read more Upcoming Webinar: Water Safety On Yachts The Professional Yachting Association is pleased to invite yacht crew and industry professionals to an upcoming live webinar dedicated to Water Safety On Yachts, taking place on 10 June 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00CET. Led by recognised experts in water management and regulatory compliance, this session will explore the common bacteria found in vessel water systems, the risks they pose to crew, guests and operations, and the practical measures that can be implemented to maintain safe onboard water standards. Read more

Media Kit The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) is the global voice representing over 11,000 professional yacht crew and industry partners from more than 90 countries. Journalists can contact the media team on marketing@pya.org The PYA has an extensive archive of photography for media use. Media Kit The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) is the global voice representing over 11,000 professional yacht crew and industry partners from more than 90 countries. Journalists can contact the media team on marketing@pya.org The PYA has an extensive archive of photography for media use. Please email marketing@pya.org for more details. By using our multimedia you agree to PYA’s terms and conditions . Downloads are available below. These links will download zip files containing .png logos. The blue PYA logo without background is the primary version for most print applications, when in doubt this is what you should be using. For digital (and some print pieces) choose based on the specific case at hand. Logos PYA Logo .zip Download ZIP • 162KB Press kit PYA MEDIA KIT -1 .pdf Download PDF • 11.05MB To About us Media Kit

Last month’s news was that the crew on the 31m M/Y La Dolce Vita had to abandon their burning yacht off the Florida Keys before fire totally gutted it and the yacht sank. Other than the watches on their wrists and the smartphones in their pockets, they may not have managed to take many other of their personal belongings with them when they abandoned the yacht. Repatriation of Personal Possessions To All news 13 April 2021 Last month’s news was that the crew on the 31m M/Y La Dolce Vita had to abandon their burning yacht off the Florida Keys before fire totally gutted it and the yacht sank. Other than the watches on their wrists and the smartphones in their pockets, they may not have managed to take many other of their personal belongings with them when they abandoned the yacht. This was not a unique occasion when yacht crew have been unexpectedly separated from their personal effects in a traumatic manner. A brief online search will reveal a series of other yacht fires and founderings, including some very large yachts. Recently, the 75m S/Y Enigma burned out and sank off Langkawi. The 60m M/Y Yogi sank in heavy weather in the Aegean in February 2012. The Yogi episode was spread over several hours before the crew were lifted off by helicopter, and they reportedly had time to assemble all their belongings to take with them. In other incidents, the speed of abandonment was such that few of the crew members’ personal effects left with their owners. Bicycles, surfboards, parachute packs, and even laptops are unwelcome candidates as survival equipment in a life raft. The above examples illustrate one category of separations between crew and their possessions, namely accidents to vessels. Accidents to individuals, leading to unexpected hospitalization and/or repatriation, are another category. Fatalities, occurring either onboard or during the period of service, are a third category. The Covid-19 crisis has brought to our attention a fourth category of enforced separation of seafarers from their belongings. A combination of quarantine/isolation/lockdown restrictions, plus limited or total unavailability of air travel to particular destinations, has meant that some of our PYA members have been unable to rejoin their yachts after a period of leave and have consequently been paid off. The return of their belongings has not always gone smoothly. The foregoing serves to show that there exists a niche area of crew welfare that is often overlooked and unprepared for until a critical situation arises. Whenever seafarers are separated from their onboard personal possessions for whatever reason, there are specific regulations and protocols to follow. The particular duties and responsibilities of owners/managers and masters, and the rights of the seafarer concerned, will be found in the flag state shipping regulations (for instance the UK Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014, Part6). In some instances the seafarer’s rights under such regulations may be embodied in, appended to, or referred to in the SEA. With regard to the UK Statutory Instrument referred to above, note the following paragraph: (13) The seafarer or the next of kin, as the case may be, must reimburse the shipowner for the reasonable delivery costs if demanded. A similar clause may be found in the regulations of other flag registries. There is no guidance as to the grounds for reimbursement of such delivery costs. Justifiable grounds could be extreme misconduct on board, leading to instant dismissal and police escort to the airport, or criminal conduct leading to imprisonment under the regime of the port being visited, such as possession of drugs or pornography. No matter who pays for the shipment, a proper accounting of all left-behind possessions is called for in all circumstances. In the event of personal belongings having to be shipped to a former crew member, or their next of kin, the circumstances leading to separation from those belongings, whether fire, foundering, sickness, injury or death are certain to create stress for those involved. The last thing that anybody needs is to compound the stress by controversy over the belongings which have been left behind on board. The best precaution to take in order to avoid a dispute over such possessions is to maintain onboard an electronic register into which each crew member can enter all relevant details regarding their personal belongings. Entries should include a photograph of each item (face and back of the case of expensive watches,) photograph of proof of purchase, make, model, serial number, a brief description, and any other pertinent information (such as provenance). The electronic format allows for easy updates as crew change or they buy themselves new toys, and remote cloud storage safeguards the list in the event of catastrophic annihilation of onboard records. The full list should be password protected, with at least one person ashore, possibly the DPA, having access. With this data always retrievable, appropriate action can be taken in the event of shipment of one person’s belongings, or a post-loss insurance claim by all crew members. If no central registry is kept on board, it would behove each individual crew member to maintain their own personal inventory in a similar remotely stored manner. In all instances, the Master or a delegated officer should verify the existence of all items listed. More news Sea Changes Forum 2026 highlights - Navigating the future of yachting The PYA Sea Changes Forum 2026, held on 24 September at the IHO in Monaco, brought together Flag States, maritime authorities and industry experts to address critical yachting updates, safety compliance, crew training and welfare, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Read more Sea Changes Forum 2026 The PYA is pleased to invite you to the 2026 Sea Changes Forum, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. Read more Upcoming Webinar: Water Safety On Yachts The Professional Yachting Association is pleased to invite yacht crew and industry professionals to an upcoming live webinar dedicated to Water Safety On Yachts, taking place on 10 June 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00CET. Led by recognised experts in water management and regulatory compliance, this session will explore the common bacteria found in vessel water systems, the risks they pose to crew, guests and operations, and the practical measures that can be implemented to maintain safe onboard water standards. Read more

Nearly 5 years ago, the IMO issued guidelines to all its member states aimed at introducing Electronic Certificates to the maritime industry. The aim was to reduce the administrative burdens caused by reliance on traditional paper certificates. e-Certificates are intended to eventually replace paper certificates across the industry. Blockchain - Coming soon to a certificate near you? To All news 11 April 2021 Nearly 5 years ago, the IMO issued guidelines to all its member states aimed at introducing Electronic Certificates to the maritime industry. The aim was to reduce the administrative burdens caused by reliance on traditional paper certificates. e-Certificates are intended to eventually replace paper certificates across the industry. Even 5 years ago there were questions about the security of digital certificates. Paper certificates have always been somewhat susceptible to falsification in one way or another. Over the years these risks had been managed down to a level that the industry and our regulators were willing to accept. The security challenge for e-Certificates was, and is still, twofold. The first was to ensure that any e-Certificate replacing an existing paper certificate provided at least the same level of security as the old paper certificate and, quite frankly, this was always relatively easy to see happening. The second challenge is to future-proof the e-Certificate system to make it truly transformational. The key to the security of e-Certificates is the concept of trust. How can we trust that an e-Certificate is authentic, is what it says it is and has not been altered in any way? There are several approaches to this – most of us have come across Digital Signatures on digital documents or attached to emails. Indeed, the PYA has already started issuing a Digital Service Record Book secured by a Digital Signature and this has been approved by the United Kingdom’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). For context, it should be pointed out that this is a long way from a simple picture of a written signature added to a document – Digital Signatures are complex algorithms that are unique to the original document. Some of us will have heard of the term Blockchain, most probably in connection with Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum etc., that use the technology to secure the records at their core. Cryptocurrencies are just a very tiny subset of Blockchain technology and, although we might have a view about the speculative nature of cryptocurrency, the undeniable fact is that the records in the Blockchain can be trusted. Trust is the key to how they work. The simplest way to look at Blockchain is as software with special features to distribute data in a trusted manner. To do this, Blockchain fundamentally addresses the issue of provisioning trust in a process between parties, even parties that may be completely unknown to each other and/or non-trusted by the other. It is this trust in a process that differentiates it from Digital Signatures and similar approaches. It is also the key to making e-Certificates transformational. At the heart of any Blockchain implementation are the concepts of a Distributed Network, Immutable Records and Transparency. A distributed network – one where each point on the network has multiple paths to every other point on the network – is incredibly resilient. Copies of the entire Blockchain are kept at multiple points in the network and, by design, the Blockchain is Immutable (Nothing can be changed). Finally, transparency is built-in as many users (or sometimes, all) can see what is happening in real-time. In the maritime world, Blockchain use cases that are already commonplace include Container Documents (TradeLens), and Marine Insurance (Insurwave). Over a billion transactions monthly are being done via these platforms! Blockchain solutions are now being introduced for processes as diverse as Ship Registration, Port Clearances, Crew Certification and even MARPOL. All these processes share complex steps with multiple inputs from many authorities and other stakeholders. Blockchain works best in collaborative settings, even between parties who are not normally collaborators or who might even be completely unknown to each other, and the emphasis on trust in a process makes it an ideal glue to bind the entire process together – in real-time and in an automated way. Blockchain-enabled E-Certificates are dynamically generated in real-time by connecting to authentic data sources. Every data field of the certificate is verified from its original source. The benefits are instantaneous Fraud Detection, the highest level of data security, Regulatory Compliance and Data Privacy (GDPR Compliance can be built-in). For seafarers, a Blockchained Crew Certification process that is as automated as possible, and which is at least as secure as the current process is an attractive proposition. The Philippines is very close to going live with such a system “N-CAP” that combines inputs from Training Providers, Medical Examiners and National Authorities, checks that all is correct and issues the necessary certificates. The Seafarer has everything on an App on a smartphone or similar device. A Blockchain implementation of the Port Clearance process reduces the administrative burden on Ship’s Officers at what is usually a hectic and stressful time. A pilot scheme “N-MAP” has been completed in two Spanish ports and a full rollout is imminent in both as well as in a number of other Spanish ports. The Spanish authorities are also carrying out a pilot study of a Blockchained MARPOL reporting process whilst Denmark and Singapore both are working on pilot implementations of the Ship Registration process. In summary, Blockchain offers the potential of a step change across the industry. The PYA will continue to watch closely as the various pilot schemes develop towards fruition. Captain Stephen Thomas is a PYA Council Member and a member of the Advisory Board of Navozyme, who are active in the field of maritime implementation of Blockchain solutions. https://navozyme.com More news Sea Changes Forum 2026 highlights - Navigating the future of yachting The PYA Sea Changes Forum 2026, held on 24 September at the IHO in Monaco, brought together Flag States, maritime authorities and industry experts to address critical yachting updates, safety compliance, crew training and welfare, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Read more Sea Changes Forum 2026 The PYA is pleased to invite you to the 2026 Sea Changes Forum, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco, during the Monaco Yacht Show. Read more Upcoming Webinar: Water Safety On Yachts The Professional Yachting Association is pleased to invite yacht crew and industry professionals to an upcoming live webinar dedicated to Water Safety On Yachts, taking place on 10 June 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00CET. Led by recognised experts in water management and regulatory compliance, this session will explore the common bacteria found in vessel water systems, the risks they pose to crew, guests and operations, and the practical measures that can be implemented to maintain safe onboard water standards. Read more

What is the Automatic Renewal and how it works If you pay by Stripe (only) , you can choose to renew your membership automatically every year. This feature is unfortunately, unavailable for other payment methods. You can change this setting at any time in the Payments tab in your profile. You will receive an email notification from Stripe about the upcoming renewal 7 days before your card will be charged. You will receive an email reminder if your card is going to expire within a month. You will receive an email if the payment has failed. If you need more information, please contact office@pya.org Automatic Renewal What is the Automatic Renewal and how it works