A very common question we are asked is “do I need the Food Safety Course many refer to as Food Safety Level 2 ?”

It is highly recommended that you complete a food safety program, not only to be aware of food safety and hygiene as you will be handling food but it will also show recruiters that you are serious about a stewardess / steward role onboard Yachts.

There is a misconception in the industry that you must have the UK Food Safety Level 2 course, this is simply not the case. The major Yacht Flag registries such as Grand Cayman and Marshall Islands accept any nationally recognized food safety course. One example of this is the ServSafe organization of the United Sates National Restaurant Association. They offer many programs including the Safe Food Handler course covering the same topics as the food safety in catering (aka Food Safety Level 2). Seven Seas Preparatory Academy offers the online Food Safety Handling Course.

What if I am a Chef?

The same flag registries will also accept professional restaurant experience. For example this is the paragraph from one of the largest Yacht registries ‘Cayman Maritime’:

Shipping Notice 07/2014 Section 6.3:

A ship’s cook should have evidence of qualifications as a ship’s cook, such as:-

“confirmation that they have been serving as a chef in a professional kitchen, commercial yacht or passenger ship and evidence that they have completed training in food and personal hygiene, food storage, stock control, and environmental protection and catering health and safety; or”

While not required some flags even have a process for applying for an equivalency certificate.