Engineering
Engineers keep engines, generators, air conditioning, water and electrics running. A technical apprenticeship from Germany, Austria or Switzerland is a strong foundation.
Open positionsCertificates and recognition
- Time to first job
- 2–4 weeks
- Cost to first job
- €2,500 – €5,000
- Salary per month
- €3,500 – €15,000
- Season
- Year-round, yard period in winter
Entry route: Technical apprenticeship and AEC · Last updated: 15/10/2026. No liability is accepted; the linked sources are authoritative.
Duties
- Maintaining and repairing main engines, generators and hydraulics
- Air conditioning, watermakers, waste water, fuel and electrics
- Spare parts, engine log and planning the yard period
- Safety in the engine room, fire prevention and drills
Career path
- Start with AEC I and II as deckhand/engineer or junior engineer
- MEOL (SV) or Engineer Officer of the Watch (EOOW)
- Chief Engineer < 3000 kW, < 500 GT
- Chief Engineer < 9000 kW, < 3000 GT; later also technical yacht management
Certificates and recognition
Since 2023, the MCA Small Vessel licences apply; old Y licences remain valid. A completed technical apprenticeship from the EU can shorten the route to EOOW.
Approved Engine Course (AEC I and II)
Your way into the engine room: AEC I and AEC II, each about half practical and half theory, only at MCA-approved providers. Each part takes about one week and costs about €900 to €1,250. You need both parts for the MEOL (SV) and for the experience route to Engineer Officer.
- Duration
- 1–2 weeks
- Cost
- €1,700 – €2,500
- Germany
- Courses at MCA-approved providers, mainly in the UK and around the Mediterranean.
- Austria
- Courses at MCA-approved providers, mainly in the UK and around the Mediterranean.
- Switzerland
- Courses at MCA-approved providers, mainly in the UK and around the Mediterranean.
MCA engineering licences (Small Vessel, formerly Y4 to Y1)
MSN 1904 has applied since 10 January 2023: MEOL (SV) for 200 to 750 kW (not an STCW licence), Engineer Officer of the Watch < 9000 kW / < 3000 GT, Chief Engineer < 3000 kW / < 500 GT and Chief Engineer < 9000 kW / < 3000 GT. Old Y4 to Y1 licences remain valid and are converted. Experience route to EOOW: 24 months on board, AEC I and II, STCW, MCA exams and an oral exam, plus Advanced Fire Fighting and Medical First Aid. Valid for 5 years.
- Duration
- 2–5 years
- Valid for
- 5 years
- Germany
- Under the “Alternative Route”, a technical apprenticeship completed in the EU counts if it suits marine engineering and covers at least 70% of the AEC syllabus; you need a comparability statement from ENIC. Whether your apprenticeship qualifies is decided by the MCA-approved provider.
- Austria
- As in Germany, an Austrian apprenticeship can count under the “Alternative Route”; whether it qualifies is decided by the MCA-approved provider.
- Switzerland
- A Swiss qualification is not an EU qualification. Check with an MCA-approved provider in advance whether and how it can be credited.
Where to train
- MCA-approved providers for AEC I and II and the Small Vessel licence courses
- Maritime colleges and universities for marine engineering
- Training companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: automotive, agricultural and construction machinery, electronics, boatbuilding (technology)
We deliberately name no individual schools and receive no commission. Before booking, check that the provider is approved for the certificate you need and for the flag state.
Salary
| Position | Per month | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Chief/Sole Engineer, 30–40 m yacht | €5,000 – €7,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
| Second Engineer | €4,500 – €9,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
| Chief Engineer, 50 m+ yacht | €8,000 – €15,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
| ETO / AV-IT (60 m+) | €7,000 – €10,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
| Motorman (80 m+) | €3,500 – €5,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
Basic monthly salary according to YPI CREW 2026, plus food and accommodation. In 2026, chief and second engineers mostly work equal rotation (2:2).
Your next step
Browse the open positions and apply directly to the employer.
Looking for crew or specialists? Post a job
Thinking of selling or chartering your yacht? Get discreet advice
More career fields
Captain and skipperDeck and watersportsInterior and serviceGalleyCharter, sales and yacht managementShipyard, refit and shore-based tradesMarina, harbour and tourismOffice, marketing and customer care
Sources
Official bodies, certificate issuers, salary guides and statistics. The current version of each source always prevails.
- YPI CREW – Superyacht Engineer Salary Guide 2026: Chief Engineer & ETO (retrieved on 15/10/2026)
- YPI CREW – What Are The Two Main Yachting Seasons? (retrieved on 15/10/2026)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency – MSN 1904 (M+F): Engineer Officer Small Vessel Certificate of Competency (retrieved on 14/10/2026)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency – Certification for Engineer Yachts (retrieved on 14/10/2026)