where do i get started? NEED ADVICE!

the first thing you need to do is to get your 6-pack, this won't land you a captains job right off, but with that and your STCW-95, it can get you landed on a yacht as a deckhand and run the tender, everytime you go out LOG YOUR SEATIME !! do not forget 1 day, as you work on larger and larger yachts you can upgrade your license, remember though. ur USCG issued Captains license IS ONLY VALID IN U.S. WATERS, work on getting your yachtmaster certificate, this will be able to land you a captains position on a large yacht, until you get that, chances are the most you'll be driving on a lux is the tender.

ur USCG issued Captains license IS ONLY VALID IN U.S. WATERS, work on getting your yachtmaster certificate, this will be able to land you a captains position on a large yacht, until you get that, chances are the most you'll be driving on a lux is the tender.[/QUOTE]

Not quite correct. USCG liscense with Oceans endorsements are valid for international voyages. You can only get an Oceans liscense with 500 ton or higher. Also most of the guys running the really large yachts are running with commercial tickets rather than the yachtmasters.

There are also other routes one could take to get on large yachts. Some guys go through the maritime academies into the shipping industry and then after putting in there time they try to move into an officers position on a yacht.

I personally started out doing deliveries when I was a teenager. Then started running smaller yachts (60-80 ft) and continued to move up. I currently run a 106' motoryacht. I have been on the same boat with the same owner for the past 6 years. If I didn't like working for the owner I am with, I would be in the 150' range but you can never underestimate the value of a good owner.

It's good to see that your interested in starting at such a young age. I decided it was what I wanted to do when I was 14. Good luck.

for officers on a "flag of convenience" yacht the flag will issue endorsements on whatever licenses from your country that they will accept. depends really on the flag. some flags issue endorsements not licenses, others have their own programme for their own licenses....

For the big yachts yes the captains are often Master Mariners from commerical vessels. its nice when they are voluntarily running the yacht like a ship according to the imo regulations even though they dont have to. its very good.

taken from www.confidentcaptain.com :
About the Yachtmaster Offshore Course: Confident Captain/Ocean Pros (CC/OP) offers the MCA approved Commercial Yachtmaster Offshore certification through its partnership with International Yachtmaster Training, Inc. (IYT). Upon successful completion of the CC/OP Yachtmaster Offshore Program and subsequent examinations, our graduates will be issued a Yachtmaster certification through IYT.

The IYT Yachtmaster Certification offered by CC/OP is a well established and globally recognized standard of excellence by Maritime authorities worldwide for the commanding of power and sail vessels. The practical experience taught in this course, provides men and women with the necessary skills and knowledge to take full responsibility for themselves, their vessels and their crews. The Yachtmaster certification is considered the "certification to have" by professional and recreational crews worldwide.

Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (6 passengers or less)
* You must be at least 18 Years old
* You must be able to document at least 360 days of experience in operation of a vessel of appropriate tonnage.
* 90 of the 360 days must be on the ocean or near coastal waters, or the license will be limited may be to inland waters.
* License will be limited to vessels of less than 100 gross tons
* If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen you can receive this license BUT your tonnage may be limited to vessels of less than 5 gross tons.

In my humble opinion, if you want to set yourself up the best from the very beggining, obtain your Foreign Going Master's license from a local Maritime Training Accademy. To start this, you will first need to obtain your 2nd/3rd Mates ticket. Depending on the country, this can take up to 3 years, including 12-18 months sailing time on commercial ships over 500 tons, and 2 years study. From starting this training to obtaining your Unlimited Masters ticket will take minimum 6-8 years. Now this might seem like a lot ot Non yacht time, HOWEVER, with the way the industry is going, and the way that large yachts are growing, this will eventually save you a lot of time. Others please correct me if I am wrong, but most big yachts are now technically classed as ships, and are requiring Class 1 Unlimited Masters for command. The very largest are also sailing with Certified Chief,2nd and even 3rd mates, same in the engine room. The upside of this is the ILO requirements also coming into force for accomodation requirements for officers and crew.
If you start on yachts, and have to keep retraining each time you want to move up, it will eventually take you a lot longer and cost you a lot more money to get to the top. However, you'll probably have a lot more fun along the way!
Good luck with whatever you choose.

Hi,

That is a very well written piece of advice.

Maybe Carl can make an abreviated verson of this thread and sticky that post in particular.

The "modern" regs are ruling everything today, I am fortunate enough myself to hold Merchant Navy Quals but feel sorry for those at the bottom of the ladder especially Engineers who the PYA seem to have totally overlooked in all their efforts to get Deck Crew Certs organised first. ( This is not recent history but goes back to the early 21st century)

Mike, you must be kidding! A US Captain license is only good in US waters??
That's like saying a British CoC is only good in British waters, Cayman CoC limited to Cayman waters.
A OUPV (Operator Uninspected Power Vessel,six pack license) may be limited to 200 miles offshore but then that's an OPERATOR's license, not a Master's License.

If you get a USCG license without STCW then the license will be stamped "US Waters only", however even a 100 Ton Master's license is good internationally as long as the holder has his/her STCW requirements.

Have a good day,
Dave