IYT does not “commercially endorse” its professional yachtingqualifications, because they are commercial certificates in their own right, but please allow us to explain the concept of a “commercial endorsement” as defined by the RYA.  

We are often asked what the differences are between IYT and the RYA and the main difference is as follows: 

The RYA is a recreational boating organisation run by recreational boaters that issue recreational boating certificates that require a “commercial endorsement” on their certificates, (if one is going to work commercially). Many of their commercial certificates do not require completion of the STCW Basic Safety Training Modules. A growing number of countries do not believe that a recreational boating organisation should have the authority to issue commercial certificates and do not accept them. 

IYT is a professional Marine Certification Authority (endorsed by the MCA and Marshall Islands Shipping Registry for approx. the past 20 years) and is run by professional mariners, and we issue “commercial” certificates in their own right. Please note that professional “Yacht qualifications” are restricted to non cargo-carrying vessels. 

The following IYT Commercial Yacht Qualifications are accepted by the MCA for use on all Red Ensign vessels:  

IYT Master of Yachts Inshore:Commercial certificate of competency as Master for operating vessels (power or sail) <24m/80 GT with up to 12 passengers in Category 3 waters, < 20n/m from a safe haven.Requires mandatory sea survival and first aid qualifications but not necessarily STCW due to proximity to shore. Requires mandatory completion of VHF Short Range Certificate. 

IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/ Mate 200 Tons:Commercial certificate of competency as Master of a Yacht (power or sail) up to 24m, or Mate up to 200 GT. Operating day or night with up to 12 passengers and 60 n/m from a safe haven.Requires mandatory completion of all STCW Basic Safety Training Modules & VHF Short Range Certificate 

IYT Master of Yachts Limited: Commercial certificate of competency as Master of a Yacht (power or sail) up to 200 GT or Mate up to 500 GT. Operating day or night with up to 12 passengers and 150 n/m from a safe haven.Requires mandatory completion of all STCW Basic Safety Training Modules & VHF Short Range Certificate 

IYT Master of Yachts Unlimited:Commercial certificate of competency as Master of a Yacht (power or sail) up to 200 GT. or Mate up to 500 GT Operating day or night with up to 12 passengers unlimited oceans.Requires mandatory completion of all STCW Basic Safety Training Modules & VHF Short Range Certificate 

Small Powerboat & RIB Master:Commercial certificate of competency as Master of a Small Powerboat or Rigid Inflatable Boat up to15m. Operating day or night with up to 12 passengers in fair weather and restricted to line-of-sight navigation close to shore Requires mandatory completion of VHF Short Range Certificate. 

VHF-Short Range Certificate:This qualification allows the operator to use a VHF Radio Covering GMDSS Sea area 1 and complies with World Radio Conference Resolution 34 and is endorsed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands.