Commercial skipper and crew
The small commercial vessel sector offers worldwide opportunities for those keen to work afloat.
Looking for a hands-on job as a skipper or crew? There are more careers in the commercial marine sector than you might think. Whether you want to helm a tourist boat, small ferry, RIB or yacht charter, lead a flotilla, build a career in fisheries or marine operations, or specialise in superyachts, there is an ocean of opportunity waiting for you.
- Earn a living on the water, doing what you love
- Have a ticket to travel and adventure
- Build valuable work and life skills from seamanship, navigation and hands-on maintenance to safety, teamwork and leadership
- Home or abroad, every day is different on a boat
Skipper roles
A commercial skipper takes responsibility for the vessel, crew and passengers, leading the decision making and ensuring the safe navigation and operation of the vessel. Pathways include starting out as a crew member, gaining experience and working through qualifications towards becoming a skipper.
Delivery skippers and crew
Many delivery skippers work on a freelance basis and there are also companies that coordinate deliveries and use a pool of regular skippers and crew. Crewing is a great way to gain sea miles and experience in parallel with undertaking training towards qualifications.
Flotilla or charter skipper
With responsibility for the safe operation and navigation of the yacht and for everyone on board, a flotilla or charter skipper handles everything from route planning and weather tracking to boat handling and maintenance, acting as a local guide and ensuring guests have an enjoyable time.
Charter yachts and superyachts
Often based in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, South East Asia or the Great Barrier Reef, the skipper, crew and staff aboard charter and superyachts are much valued but must meet exacting standards. Find out more about working in this luxury sector.
What will you do?
There is a multitude of options when it comes to working on the water as a skipper or crew, with a vast range of roles across the leisure and marine industry. In addition to deliveries, charter operations and crewing on private yachts, other opportunities include:
- Workboat: Gain employment on a working vessel such as those used for construction and maintenance projects, harbour and port work, towing, dredging and surveying.
- Fishing charter: Taking customers out to sea for trips with skills combining seamanship, boat handling and fishing knowledge, and responsibility for maintenance, safety and maritime regulations.
- Tourism: Work on boats providing day trips and tours for visitors or on small ferries taking passengers on short passages or crossings.
- Dive boat: Running a vessel to and from dive sites, considering weather and tides and with responsibility for passenger safety, emergency response, boat maintenance and maritime regulations.
- Expeditions: Often deep-sea or remote, skippers take command of operations, including safety, navigation, weather routing, crisis management and team leadership of crew.
- Charity vessel: Working professionally on non-profit boats. For example, providing boating experiences for disabled people and their families and carers, or for youth development programmes.
- Race skipper: A professional leadership role responsible for an ocean-racing yacht, navigating extreme conditions and managing crew, who may not always be experienced sailors.
RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence
Unlock your potential for working as a skipper in the small boat commercial sector of the marine industry. The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is the ultimate goal of most aspiring skippers and can be endorsed for use on either sailing vessels, motor vessels or both. It is a well-known, highly respected qualification that is recognised widely around the world for use on small commercial vessels as well as for recreational purposes:
- RYA Advanced Power Boat Certificate of Competence – for skippering small commercial power vessels up to 20 nautical miles offshore
- RYA Yachtmaster Coastal – for skippering a vessel on coastal passages, up to 20 nautical miles offshore.
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence – able to undertake passages up to 150 nautical miles offshore
- RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence – ability to take charge on extended ocean passages, anywhere in the world
Professional qualifications
RYA qualifications are the cornerstone of the small commercial vessel sector and are recognised as a badge of quality and excellence internationally.
Trinity House Yachtmaster Scholarship
Scholarship funding is available for skilled boaters who can prove their dedication to the marine industry and are keen to progress their career in the small commercial vessel sector through RYA qualifications. These scholarships are provided by Trinity House, subject to successful application and interview, with two intakes each year.
FAQs
Find out more about categorisation of waters and required certification for British flagged boats by taking a look at: Where can you work with RYA qualifications. For areas outside the UK, contact the relevant maritime authority in the country concerned.
If you intend to work on board a non-British boat, your RYA certificates are likely to be acceptable but you will need to comply with the rules of the flag state. Please contact the relevant maritime authority for full details of their requirements. For more information about where you can work with an RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence, visit: Working as an RYA Yachtmaster.
Start off by chatting to friends and colleagues already in the industry. Progress to talking to relevant RYA Recognised Training Centres which deliver courses in the type of boating you are interested in. There is also a wealth of information on the RYA website. If you have a specific question that you cannot find the answer to, please contact the RYA directly via training@rya.org.uk.
Information on commercial endorsements can be found here: Gaining Commercial Endorsements.
Start by gaining experience afloat to ensure that you enjoy being at sea. Undertake an MCA ENG1 seafarer medical certificate to ensure you do not have any underlying conditions that may prevent you from working commercially. Speak to an RYA Recognised Training Centre to explore what options are available to achieve the qualifications you need. Also take a look at both of these sources of information: Where Can You Work With RYA Qualifications? and the MCA hub Maritime and Coastguard Agency | GOV.UK.
Whether you are considering crewing roles above or below decks, or teaching sailing and personal watercraft skills to guests, the starting point is to obtain an ENG1 seafarer medical certificate, get some experience afloat, and complete the four STCW basic safety training modules: Personal Survival Techniques; Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting; Elementary First Aid; and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. Find out more about how to undertake these courses by visiting: MCA approved training providers | GOV.UK.
As a minimum, you will need an RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate. However, we would strongly advise crew to also complete the RYA Tender Operators course in order to gain the necessary skills in night time operations and environments specific to superyacht operations. Learn more about these qualifications at the RYA Powerboat Courses hub.
Yes. As with anything, the more experience you have and the higher the qualifications you hold, the greater your earning capacity.
The short answer is, it depends. A commercial skipper is responsible for the safety of the passengers, crew and vessel under their command. To meet those responsibilities there are certain minimum medical/health requirements that must be met in order to hold a commercial qualification. The same is true for disabilities. However, there are many people with various medical conditions and/or disabilities who work very successfully on commercial vessels. For more guidance on this, visit the Maritime & Coastguard Agency: Seafarers medical certification guidance - GOV.UK.
There are a variety of short term, seasonal and full-time posts in this sector, and typical staffing would be a skipper, mate and bosun, with some vessels carrying cooks and engineers as well. Find out more at: Sail Training Vessels.