Most of what you need to know at sea is written down somewhere official. The trouble is finding the current version. This is the list I give crew on my courses, with direct links.
Notices are amended. Open the link and check the amendment number and date before you rely on it. A yacht under another flag follows its own flag state's rules as well.
The conventions
International rules, adopted by the IMO and the ILO. Your flag state turns them into law.
SOLASMinimum safety standards for ship construction, fire protection, life-saving appliances, radio and navigation - the basis of most onboard drills and safety gear.MARPOLRules on oil, sewage, garbage and air emissions from ships - drives the garbage plan, oil record keeping and discharge limits crew follow daily.STCWSets the minimum training, certificates and watchkeeping standards for seafarers, including STCW Basic Safety Training and officer CoCs.MLC 2006The seafarers' bill of rights: employment agreements, wages, hours of rest, leave, repatriation, accommodation, food and medical care.COLREGsThe rules of the road: lookout, safe speed, give-way/stand-on, lights, shapes and sound signals for every watchkeeper.International Convention on Load Lines, 1966Sets minimum freeboard and watertight integrity requirements so a vessel is not overloaded and stays seaworthy.ISM CodeRequires a Safety Management System: written procedures, risk assessment, drills, reporting and a Designated Person Ashore.ISPS CodeShip and port security: security levels, Ship Security Officer, access control and security drills.SAROrganises worldwide search and rescue regions and coordination centres (MRCCs) - explains who answers a Mayday and how rescues are coordinated.
MCA notices for yacht crew
MSN = Merchant Shipping Notice (the law). MGN = Marine Guidance Note (how to comply). MIN = Marine Information Note.
MSN 1858 (M+F) Amd 2: UK Requirements for Deck Officers on Large Yachts (24m and over)Certification, training and assessment route for yacht deck officers (OOW, Chief Mate, Master Yachts) on 24 m+ yachts.MSN 1862 (M) Amd 1: UK Requirements for Deck RatingsRequirements for deck ratings, including the Yacht Rating certificate and training record book.MSN 1865 (M) Amd 1: UK Requirements for Emergency, Occupational Safety, Security, Medical Care and Survival FunctionsThe UK STCW basic safety rules: personal survival, fire fighting, first aid, PSSR, security awareness and refresher training.MGN 477 (M) Amd 5: MLC 2006 seafarer's employment agreementsWhat a Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA) must contain and how it is issued and kept.MSN 1877 (M) Amd 2: Maritime Labour Convention 2006, hours of work and entitlement to leaveMinimum hours of rest, rest-hour records, schedules and annual leave for seafarers.MSN 1886 (M+F) Amd 3: Medical examination system standardsENG1 medical system: MCA Approved Doctors and the medical and eyesight standards seafarers must meet.MSN 1887 (M) Amd 1: Maritime labour convention, 2006: medical certificationWho needs a seafarer medical certificate and how certificates are obtained and validated under MLC.MSN 1815 (M+F) Amd 7: Equivalent medical certificatesCountries whose seafarer medical certificates are accepted in place of the UK ENG1.REG Yacht Code: Red Ensign Group Yacht Code (Part A large yachts / Part B passenger yachts) - July 2024 editionConstruction, safety, equipment and manning standards for commercially operated Red Ensign yachts of 24 m and over.MSN 1781 (M+F) Amd 3: The Merchant Shipping regulations 1996 - COLREGHow COLREGs and distress signals apply in UK law (Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996).MGN 610 (M+F) Amd 1: SOLAS chapter V - guidance on the merchant shipping (safety of navigation) regulations 2020UK guidance on SOLAS V navigation duties - passage planning, radar reflectors, life-saving signals, distress messages - including how they apply to pleasure vessels.MGN 659 (M+F) Amd 3: Entry into Enclosed SpacesEnclosed space risk assessment, entry permits, atmosphere testing and rescue drills under the 2022 regulations.COSWP 2026: Code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers 2026 editionThe UK standard for safe work aboard - risk assessment, PPE, permits to work, working aloft and overside, mooring, galley and more.MIN 718 (M+F): The Ship Captain's Medical Guide 24th EditionAnnounces the 24th edition (20/12/2024) of the medical guide for vessels without a doctor aboard; sold by TSO, not free.Large Yacht Master's Guide: A master's guide to the UK Flag - Large yacht editionMCA guide for masters and officers of UK large commercial yachts on manning, rest hours, crew agreements, logs, safety and surveys.
Free official downloads
Free from the issuer. Save them to your phone before you join the boat.
Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers · 2026 editionPDF · Full COSWP text, free for online reference (printed TSO copy needed for onboard inspection).REG Yacht Code Part A · July 2024 editionPDF · Large yacht code for commercial yachts 24 m+ carrying up to 12 passengers.REG Yacht Code Part B · July 2024 editionPDF · Passenger yacht code for yachts carrying 13-36 passengers.Certification for deck officers on commercial and private yachtsWeb page · MCA training and certification guidance for yacht deck officers - routes, sea service, courses, links to the MSNs.Guidance on how to apply for a yacht rating certificateWeb page · Forms, sea service and training records needed for the Yacht Rating certificate (MSF 4340).MSN 1877 Annex B · table to record hours of work and restPDF · Official template for recording hours of rest.Life saving signals 2021PDF · The SOLAS V life-saving signals table to keep on board.R1001 The IALA Maritime Buoyage System (Ed. 2.0)Web page (PDF download) · The official buoyage system reference (Region A applies in the Mediterranean and Europe); download button on page.Shipping forecast keyWeb page · How to read the UK shipping forecast: issue times, sea areas and gale warnings.Guide to marine forecastsWeb page · Shipping, inshore, high seas and extended outlooks, Beaufort scale and sea-state terms.SOLAS V regulations for pleasure vesselsWeb page · Free RYA notes on the SOLAS V rules that apply to pleasure vessels under 150 GT.RYA SafeTrx and CG66Web page · CG66 was replaced by RYA SafeTrx in July 2018 - register your vessel and passage details with the Coastguard here.YachtCrewHelpWeb page · Free, confidential 24/7 multilingual helpline for yacht crew - chat, WhatsApp, email, phone.Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (including 2022 amendments)PDF · Full consolidated MLC text.
Reference books
Buy them from the publisher or an official shop. Pirated copies are often out of date as well as illegal.
Reeds Nautical Almanac 2027Bloomsbury (Reeds) · 2027 · Annual tides, lights, port and passage data for UK and western European waters.Reeds Skipper's HandbookAndy Du Port - Bloomsbury (Reeds) · 8th edition, 2024 · Pocket quick-reference for navigation, rules of the road, lights, signals and seamanship.Reeds Maritime MeteorologyMaurice Cornish & Elaine Ives - Bloomsbury (Reeds) · 4th edition, 2019 · Standard professional weather text for officer-level exams.Reeds Crew HandbookBill Johnson - Bloomsbury (Reeds) · 2nd edition, 2025 · Basics for new crew: ropes, knots, deck work, safety and life aboard.Reeds Superyacht ManualAdlard Coles (Bloomsbury) · 3rd edition · Industry reference for superyacht crew roles, operations and regulation.RYA Day Skipper Handbook Sail (G71)Sara Hopkinson - RYA · 2012 edition, reprinted 2025 · Core coastal skippering knowledge for sailing yachts.RYA Day Skipper Handbook Motor (G97)Jon Mendez - RYA · 2010 edition, reprinted 2025 · Core coastal skippering knowledge for motor yachts and tenders.RYA VHF Handbook (G31)RYA · 2009, reprinted 2025 · VHF/DSC procedures and the SRC syllabus.RYA Collision Regulations (G2)RYA · 2015 edition, reprinted 2025 · Full COLREGs text with plain-English explanation and diagrams.RYA Weather Handbook (G133)Chris Tibbs - RYA · 2017 edition, reprinted 2025 · Practical weather for small-craft and yacht crews, both hemispheres.RYA First Aid BookRYA & Nigel Barraclough · New edition, 2026 · Marine first aid companion to the RYA First Aid course.The Ship Captain's Medical GuideMCA - TSO · 24th edition, 2024 · The UK medical reference for vessels with no doctor aboard; required carriage on UK commercial vessels.Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers - 2026 Edition (print)MCA - TSO · 2026 · Printed version required for onboard use and inspection on UK vessels.ADMIRALTY Mariner's Handbook (NP100)UK Hydrographic Office · Core seamanship and navigation reference: charts, publications, weather, ice and regulations.Symbols and Abbreviations used on ADMIRALTY Paper Charts (NP5011)UK Hydrographic Office · Key to every chart symbol and abbreviation (INT 1).
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