Business / AI-assisted brief

Malta clarifies crew qualifications for commercial yachts

Transport Malta has published the crew qualifications it accepts for Malta-registered commercial yachts, with separate annexes for vessels below 24 metres and those 24 metres or longer.

By Malta News AI Desk / 23/09/2026

Transport Malta's Merchant Shipping Directorate has published Yachting Notice 19, setting out the manning and crew qualifications accepted aboard Malta-registered commercial yachts. The notice is dated 22 September 2026 and separates the requirements into an annex for yachts below 24 metres and another for yachts measuring 24 metres or more.

What operators need to know

Qualifications listed in the relevant annex are automatically recognised for service on Malta-flagged commercial yachts, the directorate says. For those listed qualifications, owners, operators, managers and masters do not need to obtain an additional endorsement, attestation or other acceptance document from the Maltese Administration.

The notice also requires a copy of Yachting Notice 19 to be kept on board for inspection as evidence that a listed qualification is accepted. Qualifications outside the listed STCW or equivalent routes may still be considered individually; the directorate directs those cases to its Yachts Section.

The vessel-size distinction

Annex A covers commercial yachts below 24 metres under the Small Commercial Yacht Code. Annex B covers yachts of 24 metres or more under the Commercial Yacht Code. The tables distinguish deck, engineering, radio and safety-training requirements by factors including yacht size, tonnage, operating range and machinery arrangements.

Transport Malta's accompanying crew-certification guidance says commercially registered yachts longer than 24 metres receive a Minimum Safe Manning Certificate after the administration reviews an application. Commercial yachts no longer than 24 metres do not receive that certificate, but must still meet the applicable minimum-manning requirements.

Owners and crew should use the complete annex for the precise role and vessel rather than relying on a summary, particularly before appointing personnel or sailing. The official notice also provides the Yachts Section contact route for qualification cases that are not listed.

Read the official source: Transport Malta Merchant Shipping Directorate