What's Changed and Why It Matters
The Commercial Yacht Code 2025 (CYC 2025) replaced the 2020 edition on 1 July 2025 for Malta-flagged commercial yachts of 24 metres and above. If you operate a commercially registered yacht under the Malta flag, this code governs your vessel's safety, construction, and operational standards.
The transition period is already underway. Yachts registered under the CYC 2020 must comply with the new code by their first renewal survey after 31 December 2025. For many vessels, that means Q1 or Q2 2026. If your renewal survey is approaching, compliance planning needs to happen now.
This dispatch covers what's changed, what's required, and what you need to do to stay compliant.
Which Vessels Does the CYC 2025 Apply To?
The CYC 2025 applies to commercially registered yachts of 24 metres LOA and above on the Malta Ship Register. It covers vessels that carry passengers for reward, operate charter programmes, or are otherwise engaged in commercial maritime activity.
Yachts between 12 and 24 metres fall under the separate Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC 2024), which entered force on 1 April 2024. Private (non-commercial) yachts are not covered by either code.
If your vessel is 24m+ and earns charter income, the CYC 2025 is your regulatory framework. There's no opt-out.
Key Changes from the CYC 2020
The CYC 2025 isn't a wholesale rewrite. It's an evolution of the 2020 code that addresses areas where the previous edition needed updating. The main changes fall into four categories.
Structural Fire Protection
Updated requirements for fire boundaries, insulation, and structural fire integrity. Some vessels may need to upgrade fire-rated doors, bulkhead penetrations, or insulation materials to meet the new standards. The extent of any work depends on your vessel's current configuration and the gap between the 2020 and 2025 requirements.
Stability Criteria
Revised stability standards that align with recent IMO amendments. These primarily affect the damage stability calculations and the conditions under which the vessel must demonstrate adequate stability. For most well-maintained yachts in class, the impact should be manageable, but it's worth having your classification society review the new criteria against your existing stability booklet.
Safety Equipment
Updated specifications for life-saving appliances, fire-fighting equipment, and communications systems. Some equipment may need to be replaced or upgraded if it doesn't meet the revised specifications. Check your current equipment inventory against the CYC 2025 appendices.
Crew Training Standards
Enhanced training requirements for crew engaged in commercial operations, particularly around emergency procedures, fire fighting, and passenger management. Ensure your crew certificates and training records align with the new standards before your renewal survey.
The Transition Deadline
Yachts operating under the CYC 2020 must demonstrate compliance with the CYC 2025 at their first renewal survey after 31 December 2025. This is the hard deadline.
In practical terms:
- If your renewal survey is in January 2026, you need to be CYC 2025 compliant by that survey.
- If your renewal survey is in June 2026, you have until then.
- If your renewal survey was in November 2025 (before the cutoff), you'll need to comply at your next renewal, which will fall in late 2026.
Don't wait until the survey date to start preparing. Identifying any compliance gaps and scheduling any necessary work takes time, and yards are busy in Q1/Q2 with seasonal maintenance.
Check Your Survey Date
Review your Certificate of Compliance to Trade to confirm your next renewal survey date. If it falls in the first half of 2026, start your CYC 2025 gap analysis now.
The sCYC 2024 for Smaller Commercial Yachts
The Small Commercial Yacht Code (sCYC 2024) is worth mentioning for context. It entered force on 1 April 2024 and covers commercial yachts between 12 and 24 metres LOA. Key requirements include CE certification, a 12-passenger limit, and a 5-year survey cycle for the Certificate of Compliance to Trade.
If your vessel is under 24m and commercially registered, the sCYC 2024 (not the CYC 2025) is the applicable code. The two codes work in parallel, each covering its respective size range.
For a detailed breakdown of both codes and their requirements, see our commercial yacht registration guide.
What Operators Should Do Now
- Check your renewal survey date. This determines your compliance deadline.
- Conduct a gap analysis. Compare your vessel's current compliance status against the CYC 2025 requirements. Your classification society can assist with this.
- Schedule any necessary work. If structural modifications, equipment upgrades, or crew training are needed, plan them well before the survey date.
- Update your documentation. Ensure your stability booklet, safety equipment certificates, and crew training records reflect CYC 2025 compliance.
- Coordinate with your agent. Mercer Yachting (or your current Malta agent) can liaise with Transport Malta on any questions about the transition requirements.
How Mercer Can Help
We handle CYC 2025 compliance documentation for Malta-flagged commercial yachts. Our scope includes liaising with Transport Malta on transition requirements, coordinating with your classification society for survey scheduling, and ensuring all documentation is updated and submitted correctly.
If you're unsure where your vessel stands relative to the CYC 2025, contact us. We'll review your current Certificate of Compliance to Trade, identify your renewal survey date, and outline the steps needed to ensure a smooth transition.
Need Help with CYC 2025 Compliance?
Contact Mercer Yachting at malta-desk@ritzmarine.com or +356 79797962. We'll assess your vessel's compliance position and map out the transition timeline.