The Efficient Deck Hand course, usually shortened to EDH, is the MCA-approved deck rating certificate that sits between basic yacht experience and the officer route. If you are searching for an EDH course because you want to become an Officer of the Watch, this guide covers who can enter, the sea time, what you are assessed on and how it fits the OOW path.
Key points
- The EDH is an MCA-approved deck rating certificate, taught as a short course (typically five days) that ends with an oral and practical assessment.
- You need a qualifying entry certificate, and at least six months' sea service on vessels of 15m or more before the certificate can be issued.
- For the OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt) route, the EDH must be issued at least 18 months before the OOW certificate.
- Check MSN 1862 and your training provider, because entry rules and sea-time wording vary slightly between sources.
What is the Efficient Deck Hand certificate?
The EDH is a UK deck rating qualification set out in Merchant Shipping Notice 1862 (Amendment 1), which describes it as the qualifying examination for the Able Seafarer Deck certificate of proficiency. It shows you can work as a competent member of a deck crew at a standard above ordinary entry level: handling lines and mooring, working on deck safely, standing a proper lookout and supporting the watch officer. For yacht crew, it is also a formal step on the road to an officer certificate, which is why many deckhands who want to become mates or captains take it.
Entry requirements
MSN 1862 (section 4.2) says one of the following permits entry to the EDH course and examination:
- an MCA-accepted Yachtmaster Offshore certificate;
- a Yacht Rating certificate of proficiency with at least six months' seagoing service and a steering certificate;
- a Navigational Watch Rating (NWR) certificate of proficiency;
- a UK Boat Master Licence Tier 1 Level 2;
- a Tug Rating certificate of proficiency with at least six months' seagoing service plus a steering certificate or an NWR certificate.
MIN 643 adds enrolment on an MNTB-approved officer cadet programme and certain UK fishing certificates. Some schools also accept an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal, because the MCA now accepts Coastal holders on the OOW (Yachts) route, but it is not in the MSN 1862 list, so get written confirmation from the provider before you book.
MSN 1862 sets a minimum age of 17. You will also need a valid ENG1 and, for most employers, the STCW Basic Safety certificates. See the ENG1 medical guide if you have not booked yours.
Sea time for the EDH
Separate from the entry route, you need a minimum of six months' sea service in the deck department on vessels of 15m or more before the EDH certificate can be issued. Service is counted from the date of engagement to the date of discharge and proved with a discharge book or discharge certificate backed by a sea service testimonial. MSN 1862 counts service on vessels of more than 15m operating in category C and D waters or beyond, and it must have been performed within the five years before the MCA receives your application. The MSN says the service is needed before the certificate is issued; some providers let you sit the course first and issue the certificate once you can prove the service, so ask your school before you book.
🎧 Study on watch: EDH assessment day is oral as well as practical. Our captain-written audio courses help you rehearse the answers on the way to class. Get the courses in the Audio Fastlane app →
What the course covers
The course normally runs for five days: four days of instruction followed by an oral and practical assessment. Expect topics such as deck safety and working aloft or overside, mooring and anchoring, ropework, rigging and lifting, tenders and rescue boats, watchkeeping duties and lookout, basic navigation awareness, maintenance, and cleaning and care of the vessel. Exact content depends on the provider, so read the syllabus they publish.
The assessment
You are assessed orally and on practical tasks on deck. Prepare by revisiting basic lights, shapes and sound signals (see navigation lights explained), the basics of the collision regulations (COLREGs explained), and your safety training. The assessors want to see that you work safely, know why you are doing each task, and can speak clearly about it.
Is the EDH worth doing early?
Yes, for most yacht crew who know they want to be officers. The 18-month gap between the EDH and the OOW certificate means that a late EDH can delay your officer certificate even when every other box is ticked. It also helps in the short term: many captains and bosuns see the EDH as proof that a deckhand has had proper training in deck work and is ready for more responsibility on watch. If you are working towards the Yachtmaster at the same time, plan the two together so that your sea time counts towards both.
Keeping your paperwork straight
Keep your discharge book or certificates of discharge, and ask each captain for a signed testimonial that states the vessel, its length, your dates and your department. The MCA works from that evidence, and missing paperwork is the commonest reason that sea service cannot be counted. A simple spreadsheet with vessel names, lengths, dates and days at sea will save you a lot of time later.
Cost and validity
Prices vary by provider and location. Published course prices from providers range from about £750 to €1,115, but check the current fee, whether exams and certificate fees are included and whether travel is needed. MSN 1862 sets no expiry or revalidation requirement for the EDH or for the Able Seafarer Deck certificate it leads to, although the STCW safety certificates you hold alongside it must be updated every five years.
How the EDH fits the OOW route
For the Officer of the Watch (Yachts less than 3000gt) certificate, MSN 1858 (Amendment 2, May 2026) expects 36 months' onboard yacht service since the age of 16, including 365 days of seagoing service on vessels of 15m or more; a Yachtmaster Offshore with the shore-based course certificate (or IYT Master of Yachts Limited), or a Yachtmaster Coastal with the Coastal Skipper practical course (or IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate); the ancillary courses; the two MCA written exams, Navigation and Radar (OOW Yachts) and General Ship Knowledge (OOW Yachts); and the oral. The EDH is part of that picture: it must be issued at least 18 months before the OOW certificate. That 18 months is the clock to watch. Take the EDH early and you avoid delaying your oral exam later. Our guide to becoming an OOW on yachts sets out the full sequence, and the Yachtmaster Offshore guide covers the other big prerequisite.
| Step | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Entry certificate, ENG1, STCW Basic Safety | First |
| Six months' deck sea service on 15m+ vessels | Before the EDH is issued |
| EDH course and assessment | Five days |
| EDH held at least 18 months | Before the OOW certificate is issued |
| 36 months' yacht service, courses, exams, oral | OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt) |
Frequently asked questions
Is the EDH compulsory for the OOW yacht route?
Yes. MSN 1858 says an EDH certificate from an MCA-approved provider is required, and that it must have been issued at least 18 months before the OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt) certificate is issued.
How long is the EDH course?
Typically five days, with four days of instruction and an oral and practical assessment on the last day, though providers set their own timetable.
Do I need a Yachtmaster to take the EDH?
Not necessarily. A Yachtmaster Offshore is one entry route, but a Yacht Rating certificate with six months' seagoing service and a steering certificate also qualifies, as does an NWR certificate and the other listed routes.
Does the EDH certificate expire?
MSN 1862 sets no expiry or revalidation requirement for it. Your STCW safety certificates still need updating every five years.
How much sea time do I need?
At least six months' deck sea service on vessels of 15m or more before the certificate is issued.
Can I take the EDH if I only worked on large yachts?
Yes, if you meet an entry route; the Yacht Rating certificate plus six months' seagoing service and a steering certificate is the usual one for large-yacht crew. The MCA's separate Yachtmaster Coastal route for large-yacht crew (MIN 580) expired on 31 March 2026, but MSN 1858 Amendment 2 now accepts the Coastal certificate directly for the OOW, so ask your provider whether they accept it for EDH entry.
Related guides
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