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Minimum Safe Manning

To ensure that all vessels are sufficiently, efficiently and safely manned with properly trained and certified personnel Cayman issues a Minimum Safe Manning Document (Certificate) (MSMD) under provisions of Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) of SOLAS 1974 as amended, to all ships to which Chapter I of SOLAS applies.

For pleasure yachts engaged in trade, the MSMD is issued in accordance with the Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2) as an internationally acceptable equivalence.

A MSMD is issued for each vessel as follows:

  • Merchant Vessels over 500 GT (mandatory)
  • Merchant Vessels under Caribbean Cargo Ship Safety Code (mandatory)
  • Pleasure yachts holding a Certificate of Compliance with the Large Yacht Code (mandatory)

Note: Pleasure yachts not certified under the Large Yacht code may be issued guidance by MACI, upon request.




Manning Policy Manual
Commercially Operated Yachts 24m and over, and less than 3,000 GT