Your first yacht job
What a first-time crew member needs: the two tickets, what they cost, a CV that gets read, and when to look. Each fact links to its source.
How to startFive steps, in the order we suggest.
Book your ENG1 medical
Do it first. If you do not pass the medical, you avoid paying for a course you cannot use. This order is our advice, not a rule.
Find an approved doctor →Do STCW Basic Training
Take the four-part course at an approved school. Ask whether it also includes Proficiency in Security Awareness. MCA, MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1
Write a one-page yacht CV
Use the checklist below. Print copies with a photo for the dock. YaCrew, Dockwalking for beginners
Pick a port and a season
Mediterranean hiring runs from about February to May. Caribbean hiring runs from about October to late November. YPI Crew, The main yachting seasons
Monaco jobs and season calendar →Apply and look for daywork
Apply to the jobs below and to crew agencies. Walk the docks early, when crew are on deck. Yachts sometimes take on daywork crew on the spot. YaCrew, Dockwalking for beginners
ENG1 medicalThe UK seafarer medical certificate.
- An ENG1 must be issued by a doctor approved by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). GOV.UK, Seafarer medical certificate: how to apply
- The doctor can charge up to £115. Extra tests, such as a step test, can cost more, so agree the fee first. If you are employed in the UK, your employer pays. GOV.UK, Get a seafarer medical certificate
- It is valid for up to 2 years, or 1 year if you are under 18. The doctor can issue a shorter certificate for medical reasons. MCA, MSN 1886 (M+F) Amendment 3
- The UK accepts medical certificates from 40 listed countries as equal to an ENG1, among them Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain. Check the full list before you book. GOV.UK, Seafarer medical certification guidance
STCW Basic TrainingThe basic safety course for crew.
- STCW Basic Training has four parts: Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. MCA, MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1
- You need it before you take on shipboard tasks if you have safety or pollution-prevention duties. A UK certificate must come from an MCA-approved training provider. MCA, MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1
- Personal Survival Techniques and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting must be refreshed every 5 years. MCA, MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1
- Proficiency in Security Awareness is required on ships that must comply with the ISPS Code. Every new crew member also gets security familiarisation before shipboard duties. MCA, MSN 1865 (M) Amendment 1
Your yacht CVOur advice, except where a source is linked.
- Print copies with a clear, smiling photo to hand out on the dock. YaCrew, Dockwalking for beginners
- Keep it to one page. Put your name, nationality, age, phone and email at the top.
- List your tickets with dates: STCW Basic Training, ENG1 and any extras such as a powerboat licence or food hygiene.
- Put the role you want in one line, for example "Green deckhand, available now, based in Antibes".
- Show work that transfers: hospitality, cleaning, sailing, watersports, trades or childcare.
- Give two references with phone numbers.
Entry-level rolesGuides for every role you can start in.
- DeckhandDeck and Bridge · from US$3,000/mo70 open
- Junior DeckhandDeck and Bridge · from US$2,800/mo3 open
- Deck CadetDeck and Bridge · from US$1,800/mo
- Delivery CrewDeck and Bridge · from US$3,000/mo
- Daywork DeckhandDeck and Bridge · from US$2,200/mo
- Junior Steward / Junior StewardessInterior · from US$3,200/mo2 open
- Housekeeping / Laundry AssistantInterior · from US$2,900/mo
- Daywork Steward / StewardessInterior · from US$2,400/mo
- Engineering CadetEngineering · from US$2,000/mo
- Oiler / WiperEngineering · from US$3,000/mo
- Galley AssistantGalley · from US$3,000/mo2 open
- Galley StewardGalley · from US$3,000/mo2 open
- Deckhand / StewardDual roles · from US$3,000/mo1 open
Jobs in these rolesOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com. Some ask for experience, so read each advert.
Help on boardFor when a season gets hard.
YachtCrewHelp from ISWAN is a free, private helpline for yacht crew. It answers in many languages, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. YachtCrewHelp →
Questions green crew ask
What do I need before I can work on a superyacht?
Our entry-level role guides list STCW Basic Training and an ENG1 medical as required. Basic Training has four parts: survival, firefighting, first aid, and personal safety and social responsibilities.
How much does an ENG1 cost?
In the UK an approved doctor can charge up to £115. Extra tests can cost more. If you are employed in the UK, your employer pays.
How long does an ENG1 last?
Up to 2 years, or 1 year if you are under 18. The doctor can issue a shorter certificate for medical reasons.
When is the best time to look for a first yacht job?
Mediterranean hiring runs from about February to May, for a season from about May to October. Caribbean hiring runs from about October to late November.
Rules and fees change. Check with the MCA, your flag state or your training provider before you book. Last checked 31 October 2026.