Entry & progression
Governing: MSN 1862 (M) Amendment 1, section 4; MSN 1858 (M) Amendment 2, sections 3.3 and 6.9. Leads to: OOW (Yachts) <3000 GT; Able Seafarer Deck CoP.
What the EDH is
The Efficient Deck Hand certificate is the oldest seamanship ticket still in the UK system, and it has outlived plenty of reorganisations for one reason: it proves you can do the physical work of a deck. MSN 1862 Amendment 1 describes it as the qualifying examination for an Able Seafarer Deck Certificate of Proficiency (section 4.1). You must be at least 17.
It is not issued by the MCA's marine offices. The course and the examination are run by MCA-approved training providers, each of which must also have its individual examiners approved (MSN 1862 A1, section 4.3, via MSN 1865 Annex F). The certificate you walk away with is the provider's MCA-approved EDH certificate.
Why every yacht officer needs one
On the merchant side the EDH is a step towards the Able Seafarer ticket. On yachts it matters for a different reason. MSN 1858 Amendment 2, section 3.3(d), lists an EDH given by an MCA-approved training provider among the requirements for the Officer of the Watch (Yachts) <3000 GT CoC. The section 6 ancillary table marks EDH against the OOW column only; by the time you apply for Chief Mate you already hold it.
Footnote 7 is the trap: the EDH must have been issued at least 18 months before your OOW CoC is issued. Candidates who leave EDH until they have finished their modules find their CoC delayed by a year and a half. Section 6.9 explains why the MCA wants it: EDH gives an understanding of safe working practice in seamanship, cargo work, anchor procedures, pilot ladders and means of access, and shipboard organisation.
Where it sits
| Stage | Certificate | Governing notice |
|---|---|---|
| New deckhand | STCW basic training, ENG1 | MSN 1865 |
| Watch rating | Yacht Rating CoP (II/4) | MSN 1862 A1 s.3 |
| Seamanship | EDH | MSN 1862 A1 s.4 |
| First officer ticket | OOW (Yachts) <3000 GT | MSN 1858 A2 s.3.3 |
| Merchant route | Able Seafarer Deck CoP (II/5) | MSN 1862 A1 s.5 |
For the Able Seafarer Deck CoP you also need an NWR, 18 months' deck service while holding it, the four basic training certificates, PSCRB and an ENG1 (MSN 1862 A1, section 5.1). Most yacht crew never apply for it; the EDH itself is what the OOW route asks for.
Validity
The MSN 1862 ancillary table shows no updating requirement for EDH, unlike PST and FPFF. Once issued it does not need refreshing.
TIP — Book it early The moment you hold a Yacht Rating Certificate and six months' yacht service, look at EDH dates. The MCA's approved-provider list (30 January 2026) includes yacht centres in Antibes, Palma, Cowes, Fort Lauderdale and Phuket, so it can usually be fitted into a yard period.
What this course covers
The rest of this course follows the ground examiners test: entry and the steering certificate, the assessment, ropework, mooring and anchoring, rigging and lifting gear, deck maintenance and safe working, life-saving and firefighting equipment, watchkeeping as a rating, and stores, cargo and small boat work. The MNTB/MCA Course Criteria (July 2020) set the syllabus approved centres teach to; this course explains the same subjects in its own words and does not reproduce it.
CAUTION — Notice numbers MSN 1858 A2 refers to "MSN 1862 (Amendment 2)" in its text while the footnote and gov.uk still point to Amendment 1. Check the current version on gov.uk before relying on a section number.