Safer Waves offers crew sexual harassment support
6 July 2021
PYA Councillor, Lynne Edwards, recently wrote an article highlighting the prevalence of sexual harassment in the yachting industry, which included some of the findings from our survey on sexual harassment, conducted in 2018.
Since then, multiple yachting organisations developed services to offer crew more support in this area, including Safer Waves - an organisation set up in 2019 offering support services for seafarers who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment or gender discrimination on board.
Safer Waves is a UK registered charity and has recently introduced their anonymous email support service, run by a team of volunteers who have received training from Rape Crisis South London in how to respond to emails about sexual violence, providing emotional support and information.
What to do if you’ve been a victim of sexual harassment?
Crew should always report instances of sexual harassment or assault to their HOD’s or Captain onboard.
If no action has been taken, we advise crew to report all incidents to their management company and organisations such as the PYA or ISWAN who can provide confidential assistance and put you in touch with legal professionals and counseling services, such as Safer Waves.
For more information about Safer Waves, click here.
To read Lynne Edwards' article via OnboardOnline, click here.
More news
Launch of a New AV/IT Training Programme to Address Growing Skills Gap Onboard Superyachts
The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) spearheaded the development of a series of courses to deliver fit-for-purpose AV/IT training, aligned with real onboard needs. The courses will be provided through IAMI GUEST Accredited training providers.
Antibes (France), 21 Jan. 2026 - Yacht agents and captains are reporting a growing demand for crew with Electrical Technical Officer (ETO) certification. However, while an ETO Certificate of Competency is a degree-level qualification focused primarily on high-voltage electrical systems, the operational reality onboard many yachts tells a different story.
(2).png)
Real Life On Board Competition - Superyacht Reality Project
The PYA, with the backing of the Raising The Bar think tank, invites yacht crew worldwide to contribute to Superyacht Reality – Real Life On Board, a global photo and video competition designed to reflect the authentic experience of working on superyachts.
This initiative aims to support career awareness, promote realistic expectations of life at sea, and share the everyday moments that define professional yachting — from teamwork and skills development to the challenges and rewards of working on board.
The competition starts on 19th January 2026, ends on 22nd March 2026, and the winners will be announced the following week.
PYA Christmas Ball 2025 Highlights
The 2025 PYA Christmas Ball took place on 5 December at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, bringing Captains, crew and well-known leading industry professionals together for a 1960s-themed evening. We started with a cocktail reception, with live musicians playing as guests arrived in retro attire. After months of preparation, we were truly delighted to see how much our members and partners enjoyed this special night. The PYA Christmas Ball remains a cherished tradition, bringing our community together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories.