MCA Master 200 GT CoC

Overview of the MCA Master 200 GT Certificate of Competence, why it’s worth it and how to pass it.

What is the MCA Master 200?

The Master 200 qualification is the next level above RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean, regulated under MCA MSN 1858. It allows you to command vessels up to 200 GT onboard as Master or OOW (yachts up to 500 GT) in international compliance with STCW and Large Yacht Code standards.

There are two operational licences:

• Unlimited: for worldwide operation (requires Yachtmaster Ocean + GOC instead of ROC)
• Limited: up to 150 NM from a safe haven (requires Yachtmaster Offshore + ROC or GOC)

The Master 200 GT is the entry point into the MCA Yacht Certificate of Competency (CoC) progression pathway. It is an optional qualification. Candidates can also choose to progress directly to the OOW Yachts less than 3000 GT CoC if they meet the requirements.

To progress beyond Master 200 GT, you must be employed in a commercial capacity and gain the required sea service on commercially operated vessels. Sea service is also required for the Master 200 GT, but the requirements are lighter. You must demonstrate a minimum of 3 months of seagoing service, which can be self-declared, and there is no need to submit formal sea service testimonials, as the MCA accepts this time based on your declaration in the NOE (Notice of Eligibility) application form.

Why Should You Do It?

• If you plan to work on boats, the Master 200 GT CoC is widely recognised by ports and commercial employers.
• The exam forces you to solidify and expand core navigation, legal, safety, and leadership skills.
• It takes your seamanship far beyond recreational credentials into the professional yachting and commercial sector.

Pre‑requisites & Required Training

• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC (commercially endorsed) - mandatory for limited Master 200 CoC.
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean CoC - required for unlimited Master 200 CoC.
• RYA Yachtmaster Shorebase certificates (both Offshore & Ocean Shorebased, depending on the CoC limitation).
• A valid ENG1 medical certificate.
• STCW Basic Safety Training: Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety & Social Responsibility.
• Radiocommunications certificates: ROC for limited qualification, or GOC for unlimited.
• HELM Operational level certificate. Mandatory for watchkeeping and bridge team understanding.
• Demonstrate 3 months seagoing service on vessels of between 15 metres and 24 metres or under 200 GT. Contrary to common belief, there is no requirement to provide formal sea service testimonials. The MCA does not require your sea time to be verified. You simply need to declare your experience truthfully and accurately by completing the relevant section in the Notice of Eligibility (NOE) application form.

Before applying for your NOE, make sure to fulfil the above requirements. For administrative requirements, please refer to this article here.

What’s Covered in the Exam?

About 50% of the oral examination overlaps with Yachtmaster content (navigation, COLREGs, weather, chartwork, buoyage). However, you will be expected to know these topics at a much detailed level. You might be surprised by how much deeper the knowledge goes on topics you’ve already studied, like buoyage and COLREGs. The remaining 50% dives deep into commercial topics:

• Maritime law, commercial codes, business, pollution, CoSWP, crew agreements, safe manning.
• Advanced bridge procedures, incident response, leadership, muster planning.
• Stability, seamanship under emergency conditions, and environmental safety protocols.

Complete syllabus can be found here.

🚨 Be aware: The Master 200 GT Exam is very challenging, much tougher than the RYA Yachtmaster CoC. Failure rates are high. Master 200gt takes your existing skills to the full deck “Master” level, not just brushing up existing skills. It’s especially demanding if you don’t have prior formal maritime education, because the only MCA prerequisite is a Yachtmaster CoC. Compared to Officer‑of‑the‑Watch (OOW) for yachts less than 3000 GT, Master 200 tests deeper knowledge of commercial regulations and master responsibilities. The exam is also challenging if you haven’t sailed on larger yachts before (>24 m), because it presupposes familiarity with bridge procedures, radar/ARPA principles, docking procedures, and static stability considerations.

Study Materials & Recommended Courses

Plan for 3–6 months of study, depending on how current your knowledge is and how much time you can dedicate to preparation. While there are 5-day face-to-face courses available, they simply don’t allow enough time to cover the extensive syllabus required for the exam. It’s unrealistic to fully prepare in just five days.

Instead, I strongly recommend enrolling in a high-quality online course. These allow you to study at your own pace, revisit complex topics as needed, and fit your learning around your schedule, making them far more effective for most candidates.

I highly recommend Fred's Master 200 Oral Prep Course. It’s one of the most rigorous and comprehensive online courses available for the Master 200 exam, but it’s absolutely worth the effort. I’ve never seen a teacher show such a high level of dedication. Fred consistently goes above and beyond to ensure his students are fully prepared.

To pass the exam, you need to be 100% confident in the following core areas. These are the topics that will make you pass the exam:

• Collision Avoidance – Assessing and responding to risk of collision under the COLREGs
• Emergency Response – Handling a wide range of emergency situations
• Lights and Signals – Identifying vessels using navigation lights, day shapes, and sound signals
• Buoyage Systems – Understanding IALA buoyage (Region A or B) and applying it accurately in practical navigation

Additional materials

• Bluewater Miles Resources - Numerous materials covering navigation, Colregs, Checklists, Emergency Procedures, Weather, GMDSS, Passage Planning.
• Vessels Lights and Signals. Interactive available here. These are likely the most comprehensive materials available on this topic. To my knowledge, no other published resources cover Lights and Signals in the depth required to meet the standards of the MCA exams.
• Seamanship Notes - Provides tables and bullet points to highlight key pieces of information covering MCA examination syllabus. Totally optional.
• Mariner's Handbook - Contains a lot of reference information regarding maritime navigation, sea and ice conditions, meteorology and regulations. It’s not essential, but may be useful as a reference book.
• Symbols and Abbreviations Used on Admiralty Charts (NP5011) - Gives details on symbols and abbreviations used on the worldwide range of ADMIRALTY charts, and international Chart Series Paper Charts.
• Guide to ENC Symbols used in ECDIS (NP5012) - Gives details on symbols and abbreviations used in Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) portrayed in Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).
• IALA Maritime Buoyage System (NP735) - Provides information on the IALA buoyage system. The publication includes diagrams and written detailed explanations of the five types of marks: lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water and special marks.
• Marine Guidance notes (MGNs): MGN 315 - Keeping a Safe Navigational Watch on Merchant Vessels, MGN 369 - Navigation in Restricted Visibility, MGN 71 - Muster, drill, onboard training, decision support system.
• Stability guidance booklets for powered and sailing vessels
• Bridge Procedures Guide

How the exam is conducted

The exam is divided into Part A and Part B:

• Part A: Online Multiple-Choice Test (40 minutes total). Pass marks: COLREGs - 90%, IALA Buoyage System - 90%, Navigational Procedures - 80%, Remaining topics (Regulations, Emergencies, Met., Pollution, etc.) - 50% each. You must score separately in each block to pass. Once you pass Part A, you should be assigned Part B within a few weeks.
• Part B: Oral examination via MS Teams (up to 1.5h).

High failure rate for both parts. If you fail, it will most likely be on Buoyage, Colregs, or Lights.

Estimated Costs for MCA Master 200 GT

Assuming you already hold Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean, below is the rough cost estimation based on prices in 2025.

You’ll also need to factor in the cost of accommodation and travel, as the STCW, GMDSS GOC, and HELM (O) courses are conducted in person. In total, you will have to spend around 5000£.

Why It’s Worth It

The process of obtaining the Master 200 GT Certificate of Competency (CoC) is costly, time-consuming and demanding. You’ll need to fully immerse yourself in MCA regulations and complete all the required paperwork, training, and certifications. That said, in my opinion, it’s absolutely worth the effort, not only for professional advancement but also for personal growth. You can expect to:

• Increase your confidence and safety on the water. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the Collision Regulations (COLREGs) and how to apply them effectively in real-world situations. This level of knowledge goes far beyond RYA Yachtmaster and what most general sailing books offer.
• Deepen your understanding of commercial regulations and seamanship. The training consolidates existing knowledge (COLREGs, lights, buoyage, radar), but also deepens areas critical for port-state inspections, legal awareness, and international operation.
• Open new career opportunities in the maritime industry in the future. A Master 200 CoC is a widely recognised commercial certificate for yachting and offshore work. It significantly enhances opportunities on larger yachts, workboat vessels such as wind-farm transfer vessels, pilot boats, small passenger ships etc.

Final Word

What does it take to pass this prestigious qualification?

A well-rounded foundation in Yachtmaster-level navigation paired with extensive study of new master-level topics, strict focus on regulations (COLREGs, IALA), and at least 6–8 weeks of full-time preparation (or 3–6 months part-time). If you’re motivated to work professionally or want to elevate your skills, I can highly recommend Master 200 GT CoC.

Happy Sailing!

Related articles:
• Certificates of Competence
• Training