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PYA Christmas Ball has been one of the biggest and best events in the yachting calendar for 20 years. Attracting over 200 captains, crew and yachting professionals to the prestigious Hotel Martinez in Cannes, it is a night not to be missed! It is being held 16 December 2022 from 7pm. PYA Christmas Ball 2022 To All news 1 December 2022 PYA Christmas Ball has been one of the biggest and best events in the yachting calendar for 20 years. Attracting over 200 captains, crew and yachting professionals to the prestigious Hotel Martinez in Cannes, it is a night not to be missed! It is being held 16 December 2022 from 7pm. Featuring a cocktail reception, live music, gourmet food, plenty of drinks, fantastic prizes, entertainment, gifts, a photobooth and more, the PYA Christmas Ball never fails to kick off the Christmas season with a bang! This year’s dress code is black tie with a touch of gold! Book your tickets now before it sells out! As a non-profit association, the PYA relies on the support of our wonderful sponsors to host this prestigious fundraiser. Take a moment to learn about this year’s sponsors. Burgess In addition to being a global leader for brokerage, charter, operational management and new-build advisory services, Burgess has now started a podcast! The Burgess Yacht Crew Podcast opens up in-depth conversations about life at sea, discussing hot topics within the industry, as well as offering mental health support and promoting well-being for yacht crew. It also has series on diversity and sustainability in the yachting world. Listen on Spotify or search for Burgess Yacht Crew wherever you get your podcasts. San Lorenzo Since 1958 the Sanlorenzo shipyards have been producing luxury motor yachts, creating an inspiring line of yachts, both semi-custom and made-to-measure according to the owner’s specific requests. In 2018 they launched the Sanlorenzo Academy committed to supporting the younger generation by promoting the technical and craft skills of young people in the nautical sector. The vocational training courses last 600 hours, divided between theoretical activities and workshops, and are always followed by internships of varying duration. This initiative creates an important virtuous circle between industry, the training sector and the world of work, investing in new generations and creating employment. To learn more or apply visit the San LorenzoAcademy . Yotspot Yotspot has been a successful online community since launching in 2010, bringing Captains, Crew and employers together for jobs, sailing opportunities, and courses and now through Yotspot Connect you can stay connected to friends all over the world. When you arrive at a new location, port or networking event, just ask "Who's around?" Stay connected with unlimited friends and colleagues by downloading Yotspot Connect in the Apple Store or Google Play. Infoburo Infoburo offers complete office solutions and support for telephony, printing, servers, networking, hardware (desktop & laptop rent or buy), backup solutions, internet protection, and office automation. Based out of Istres they operate in the South of France and guarentee on-site intervention within 4 hours. To find out more visit their website of contact them for a quote on +33 490 441 427. Gourmet Deliveries Gourmet Deliveries, a family-owned and operated business since 2007, offer luxury provisions for superyachts worldwide, including a wide range of personalised food, wines, bedding, linen and more. They work alongside quality suppliers and ensure they provide clients with only the highest quality products. To save time for chefs and chief stews, Gourmet Deliveries offers a quick and efficient online order service . It lists 10,000 popular products to ensure it can cater to every guest and crew requirement. Gourmet Deliveries offers the widest and the most exclusive catalogue in the world. To get more information visit their website or directly on WhatsApp +33 628 646 124 . MYBA MYBA, the Worldwide Yachting Association , is a global trade association founded in 1984 by a group of prominent yacht brokers with the aim of promoting standards of professionalism and ethics in the yachting industry both throughout the Mediterranean and worldwide. MYBA is the creator of the industry’s most respected and widely used contracts, the MYBA Sales & Purchase Agreement (MoA) and the MYBA Charter Agreement. In addition to being the owner of YACHTFOLIO, and the MYBA Charter Show, MYBA runs a number of influential Committees and Panels ensuring that the industry continues to flourish and maintains the highest ethical and technical standards. To find out more about becoming a member visit MYBA online Voyonic Voyonic offers a full crew employment solution to yacht owners and operators. They work with crew managers or directly with the Captains on the yachts to coordinate the day-to-day basics of employment so you don’t have to. Their team has decades of experience in payroll and personnel management within the maritime industry with the most up-to-date knowledge of the fast-moving environment of global business and global employment regulation. If you are looking for maritime experts in crew management, global employment, employment benefits and payroll, reach out to them at https://voyonic.com/yacht Riviera Wines With more than 15 years of experience, Riviera Wines has grown into one of the most well-renowned and experienced wine suppliers in the yachting industry, combining the finest wine expertise and passion with a vital focus and understanding of the luxury industry. They have a dedicated and passionate team who offers a complete solution to all your wine & spirits needs on board: be it wine or spirits supply, bespoke expert advice, WSET crew training, wine tastings onboard and much more. Let Riviera Wine become your wine & spirits partner! 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

Antibes (France), 26 August 2024 - In light of the recent tragic sinking of the yacht Bayesian and loss of lives, we understand that many are deeply concerned and eager to know the details surrounding this unfortunate event. However, we urge everyone—media, the public, and all interested parties—to refrain from speculating on the causes, responsibilities, or circumstances until the official inquiry is concluded. Statement from the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) regarding the tragic sinking of Bayesian To All news 26 August 2024 Antibes (France), 26 August 2024 - In light of the recent tragic sinking of the yacht Bayesian and loss of lives, we understand that many are deeply concerned and eager to know the details surrounding this unfortunate event. However, we urge everyone—media, the public, and all interested parties—to refrain from speculating on the causes, responsibilities, or circumstances until the official inquiry is concluded. "At this time, all that we know is that we do not know" said Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association. "We do not yet have all the facts and any theories or assumptions circulating at this stage are purely speculative and risk misleading the public. We emphasize that accurate reporting should be grounded in verified information, not driven by emotion or passion", he added. Vessels such as Sailing Yacht Bayesian are crewed by professional seafarers, who are not only well-trained but are also equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their duties with excellence and care. The yachting industry only accept training standards which have been mandated and verified by the world’s major Maritime authorities, including the EU member states. The PYA’s mission has always been to foster a culture of excellence, responsibility, and safety in yachting. As we reflect on the past 33 years, we reaffirm our commitment to these principles and to the well-being of all those who serve on the water. We ask for patience as the relevant authorities conduct a thorough and meticulous investigation. The truth will be revealed in due course, and it is essential that we allow this process to unfold without the cloud of conjecture. End of Statement Note for editors: Run by yachting professionals, for yachting professionals, the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) is the Voice of professional yacht crew worldwide. With members from more than 90 countries, its mission is to promote high standards of qualification, skills and knowledge amongst professional yachting personnel, training providers, and through the professional Yachting industry generally. For interviews, contact: Christophe Bourillon, CEO of the PYA email: ceo@pya.org Cellphone: + 33 6 26 83 70 58 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

Find out more about the social security rights and obligations yachts and crew have within the EU. Know your EU Social Security Rights and Obligations To All news 1 March 2022 Within the EU, Seafarers, like other EU Nationals are entitled to social protection. Those crew (who are EU nationals) working on board vessels flying the flag of an EU country, by virtue of Article 11.4 of EU Regulation 883/2004, shall be subject to be insured in the Flag State. The only exception for crew to be insured in the Member State where the employer has their business/registered office, is if he/she has their residency in the same Member State. It is important to know that, although there are various private schemes offered to yachts that, along with insurance policies, claim to provide private alternatives to a state social security scheme, none of these private solutions are approved by country bodies, such as ENIM in France. There are also significant legal consequences, both civil and criminal for yachts not complying with social security obligations. France In July 2017, France introduced a social security decree, following mandatory obligations under the MLC, requiring all seafarers resident in France, or those who spend more than 181 days in France, to pay into their social security system. The aim of these regulations is to ensure seafarers resident in France are afforded protection (whether the yacht is a pleasure or commercial vessel). During the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival, PYA Partner, Breaking The Mould Accounting, heard from local lawyers that there are still yacht owners regularly being prosecuted for hidden employment, despite the legislation being in place for 5 years. If you would like to find out more about social security protection in France, contact ENIM. Malta With exception to the above ruling, yacht crew working on vessels registered in Malta have the benefit of registering their social security in another EU member state scheme, allowing greater flexibility to those who reside elsewhere and still receive the same social protection. More information Learn more about EU Crew Employment Services, plus specific advice for social security in Malta, by contacting our partner, Alasdair Milroy, at Breaking the Mould Accounting . 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

The MCA have updated their list of approved ENG1 doctors based internationally. © Mateo Hernandez Reyes The MCA updates its list of approved ENG1 doctors outside of the UK To All news 12 October 2023 The MCA have updated their list of approved ENG1 doctors based internationally. Seafarer's which are currently employed on vessels will need to have their seafarer medical fitness certificate approved, which in the UK is called the ENG1. The certificate is confirmation that an individual is deemed medically fit to work on sea-going ships and they do not have a pre-existing medical condition that could pose a risk to themselves or others while carrying out their duties. It is important to know that the MCA will accept seafarer medical certificates that are approved by international maritime administrations as well. Among the list of countries which are recognised by the MCA for the issuance of medical certificates include: France, Malta, Spain and Norway. To get the full list, you can explore the resource here for further information. For seafarers that are based internationally, national maritime authorities will also have their own list of approved doctors. One particular example is the Norwegian Maritime Authority that has published its approved list of doctors operating outside of the country which can be viewed here . To understand more about ENG1 or other medical certificates such as the ML5, you can explore the MCA’s guidance on obtaining one. To see the current list of approved overseas doctors by the MCA, please explore this resource . 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

An Update From The Bridge - an article written by the Captain's Committee of the ISS. The PYA’s mission is “to represent the interests of Professional Yacht Crew and to encourage and maintain the highest professional standards”. For this reason, we have been talking with Captains and crew in the yachting industry to better understand some of the current issues we are facing: Fatigue in Captaincy and PYA initiatives To All news 17 October 2024 The PYA’s mission is “to represent the interests of Professional Yacht Crew and to encourage and maintain the highest professional standards”. For this reason, we have been talking with Captains and crew in the yachting industry to better understand some of the current issues we are facing: Crew recruitment Low retention of crew on board Lack of career aspiration Lack of right training Generational gap Mental health During the Superyacht Forum in Amsterdam , and YARE in Viareggio , we’ve discussed these issues deeply and they all seem to stem from wrong expectations. Wrong expectations starting from the owner of the yacht to the new generation of crew wanting to get a foot on board. Captains find themselves more alone than ever, having to manage everyone’s (wrong) expectations. For this reason, the PYA has been working on several initiatives including: A completely revamped Member’s Area, which will integrate new services that will allow members to communicate on important matters through Forums; A WhatsApp Group for Captains and HODs called PYA Helm Circle for quick exchanges; A new team of experts on safety on board available to crew and industry stakeholders that you can reach on Telegram (be part of the group!) or by email onboardsafety@pya.org ; A series of discussions, meetings, articles and webinars on these topics to raise awareness. PYA member Capt. Herbert Magney shared with us this interesting article by the ISS Captain’s Committee that well summarises what Captains are going through. As the introduction highlights the “Progress Paradox” (if everything is better, why are the Captains and crew feeling worse?), the article delves into the various factors that lead to exhaustion. If you have any feedback or comments after reading this article, please don’t hesitate to reach us at info@pya.org to help us bring positive change into the yachting industry. An Update From The Bridge - an article written by the Captain's Committee of the ISS The International Superyacht Society (ISS) is the representative organisation of the Large yacht industry with a mission to; “ Promote Excellence and Ensure Sustainability in the Global Yachting Industry ”. Within the ISS are committees established to work towards this mission. The Captain’s Committee is a collective of current seafaring Captains from varying backgrounds and locations that work together to represent the concerns of yacht crew and Captains. Major projects include, the support for ISWAN and the launch of the yacht crew helpline www.superyachthelp.org and the publishing of issues of wide industry concern. In this first article, from the ISS Captains, is the unanimous view of the greatest challenge to today’s Yacht Captains is fatigue management. Their own and that of the Crews they lead. There is a sense that we, the Captains, are sitting on the greatest “Dirty Little Secret” in the yachting industry. In this article we will break out some of the reasons we feel this and that it is not constrained to any one size or segment within yachting. “A Symptom, not a Problem” As the Captains began sharing anecdotes, one in the committee members spoke up and asked if we were all looking at this the wrong way: “Is fatigue not a problem in itself but a just a symptom of the wider problems in modern yachting?” The penny dropped and the group on the call took a pause, ‘If fatigue that is such a concern is the symptom, what are the cause(s)?”. When looking for causes it became tricky as we have what could be called a “Progress Paradox”, in that everything is better, but the Captains and crews are feeling worse. Breaking this quandary to its components: The yachts have never been built better, and this extends to operational capability, environmental considerations and with MLC now well entrenched better accommodation and facilities for crew. The Crew are better trained, more professionally focused and their terms are better than in the past. Supporting companies are stronger, more comprehensive and staffed by more qualified personnel. So with all this, the industry’s performance must be ‘never-better’, right? Why then, are we, the Captains, feeling stretched like never before? There is no single answer of course, more layers of factors that when combined leave Captains and their Crews feeling physically and mentally exhausted trying to hold the tails of the ocean-going tigers they work within. The Culture The stakeholders in the larger maritime world, have had a decades long campaign a positive error culture, where all are empowered to speak out on safety. Parallels have been drawn with aviation and medical industries which have successfully increased safety and reduced costs by empowering staff to report and document their mistakes so their industries can learn from it. Excellent further reading on this can be found at: “Making Critical Decisions at Sea”, which was recently published by CHIRP and distributed by the Nautical Institute amongst others. Many yacht Captains feel the opposite situation is entrenched within their yachts. Captains do not feel empowered to openly state; “I am stretched to breaking point and fatigue is endangering myself and my crew.” The shore support teams rely and demand the Captain to have and execute the authority to operate the vessel safely. Does this extend to stopping the yacht when fatigue is placing crew at risk? If this is said there are too many cases where the resolution is to replace the non-cooperating Captain at the next opportunity that doesn’t impact the Owners enjoyment with another Captain that will accept the motto of yachting “Harden Up, Sleep later and deliver the Guest Experience”. Ironically, all the ISS Captains have been guilty of this view as it is how they entered the industry and it is ingrained in their DNA. Now the industry has outgrown this Neanderthal-ques view and the question is; How can this cycle be broken? Is this critical problem even known by the most important members of our yacht community, the Yacht Owners? The yachts that are being marketed are so capable that the crew cannot maintain them. Is there meaningful representation by the DPA to the highest levels of Ownership of this concern as required by the ISM code? The legislation has flexibility, and, in many cases, fatigue could be easily mitigated by sensible turnaround times or an industry wide education campaign, so guests understand the yachts are not resorts with shifts - there is only one crew. No harm, no foul is only going to work while the yachts ride their luck until some terrible tragedy shakes the industry out of our self-induced blindness where fees and commissions exceed a true commitment to safety. There are more incidents in yachting than are reported. This is a whispered, though well-known fact. Yes, the responsibility for reporting returns to the Captains, but when fatigue is a contributory factor there is no action, or worse the captain is held to improve the work rosters, something they have too little control over when the charter or private guest routines exceed what they can address with crew numbers available. It ought to be so easy to explain to an UHNWI that the commitment to crew rest is in place for the safety of themselves, their families, their asset and their crews. They are also in place to protect all in the operation against liability issues. It is beyond the capacity of the Captain, with their single source of income to speak out, Captains will buckle in deference to their job security. It takes an industry-wide commitment. The Yachts The wonderful new yachts are a privilege to call a workplace, but they are so capable that the crew struggle to keep up. This begins from the day of the launch where challenges range from storage, to cleaning to operation. The crew are brought on too late in construction to provide an operational perspective and then are instructed to ‘make it work’. A series of innocuous compromises in construction combine to make a workplace that is physically improbable to operate efficiently. An ISS Build Captain recently was asked to sail a 90m yacht from the shipyard 24 hours after taking delivery. The shipyard stated the ‘normal’ period post-delivery was 4 to 8 weeks. This time allows a completed yacht to be Seaworthy with crew trained, stores loaded, and the vessel secured. The Captain spoke out but none in the process would accept the concerns. This included the; owner, broker, shore side support company, and comfortingly the DPA. With such a start this yacht will struggle to truly ‘make it’ as a sustainable operation the stress and fatigue such a rushed delivery builds into the culture is hard to shake. Once in operation the yachts the yachts limp through guest periods. Crew openly talk of ‘just making it’ through several weeks with guests. To an outsider this may seem strange. “How hard can it be fetching drinks, making beds, driving people to the beach or wakeboarding? Hardly work at all, right?” The Yachting Industry promotes an unparalleled guest experience with everything on call and no limitations to the guests. This is not possible for those tasked to deliver this model. Too many times limited crew numbers have seafarers navigating and maintaining engine watches through the nights after full days of guest service. The Crew Career focused and trained crew are amazing but impatient. The ‘hop onboard for adventure’ that yachting once represented has been replaced by a more mercenary approach. Crew are well-informed on what remuneration, leave and entitlements they seek. This should be held up as a positive, though with an expectation of black and white employment terms yachting’s long-held refrain of working together for a single goal of guest benefit is waning. Tenure on yachts is measured in months and not years, this is a great cost to the industry in administration, training, accidental damage and of course the ultimate measure being the team performance to the guests. This alone should bring to question the way crew employment is being handled. Too often a crew member leaves as they are just tired and want a break, they then repeat the cycle again in their next employment. The ISS Captains understand this, and all are aware of their guilt in not having the time in their own days to speak to crew and guide them through their work routines and indeed their career decisions. “If only the time” seemed to be a common response to the conversation between Captains on how much time you really dedicate to speaking and listening to crew. The Shore Support Community There has never been better support. This extends through; forward-leaning management companies, recruitment firms, medical providers, trainers, IT firms and suppliers. So many professionals all knowledgeable and all passionate wishing to assist. The shortfall being all these companies want a piece of the Captain’s and Senior Crew’s time. There is an irony that everyone offering to make a Captain’s life easier actually takes just a little more of their time. Training is the one area all Captains say is lacking; however, it is not through lack of providers. Too many of the Captains speak of booking, re-booking and eventually cancelling valuable training due to lack of time or variations in the schedule making a booking improbable. Overlaid with the amount of support firms needing time (particularly on larger yachts) there are layers upon layers to gain basic operational decisions and the Captains now struggle under the weight of communicating to all. Lastly, in day-to-day operations the dance floor is full, however, what is also apparent when there is an incident of significance the Captain is alone. All the Captains are aware that it is the Captain that will be legally accountable when there is an incident involving serious casualty, discharge to the marine environment or damage to the vessel or a third party. The Solution We, the ISS Captains, as authors and concerned representatives of the yachting community would like to offer a simple solution, but if it were that simple it would already be in place. It is a multi-faceted problem that need multiple paths to find a solution Hidden within this article is a plea. A plea to those involved in selling (charter and private), design and construction to seek operational input and then use your respective voices to educate and manage client expectations. Even the largest of yachts are restricted in the resources that are available when in operation. Unlike shore residences, there is no second shift or the chance to parachute in five more staff to help out at peak times, in times of sickness or fatigue. This article speaks to the daily operations where fatigue becomes a symptom. There is another layer that is compounding this. There is a privilege afforded to yacht owners to determine the programme at their whim. This is certainly their right due to the investment made, however, for crew this results in a situation where they are unable to have a clear picture of when and where they may take their earned leave. Again, it is beholden to those in the higher levels of the yachting community that have direct access to Yacht Owners to make this stressor known to their clients. For the love of yachting the ISS Captains ask that we all become stakeholders in supporting our Captains and crew in this most critical aspect of their safety and performance. Sincerely, Your Fleet Captains 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

Nearly 5 years ago, the IMO issued guidelines to all its member states aimed at introducing Electronic Certificates to the maritime industry. The aim was to reduce the administrative burdens caused by reliance on traditional paper certificates. e-Certificates are intended to eventually replace paper certificates across the industry. Blockchain - Coming soon to a certificate near you? To All news 11 April 2021 Nearly 5 years ago, the IMO issued guidelines to all its member states aimed at introducing Electronic Certificates to the maritime industry. The aim was to reduce the administrative burdens caused by reliance on traditional paper certificates. e-Certificates are intended to eventually replace paper certificates across the industry. Even 5 years ago there were questions about the security of digital certificates. Paper certificates have always been somewhat susceptible to falsification in one way or another. Over the years these risks had been managed down to a level that the industry and our regulators were willing to accept. The security challenge for e-Certificates was, and is still, twofold. The first was to ensure that any e-Certificate replacing an existing paper certificate provided at least the same level of security as the old paper certificate and, quite frankly, this was always relatively easy to see happening. The second challenge is to future-proof the e-Certificate system to make it truly transformational. The key to the security of e-Certificates is the concept of trust. How can we trust that an e-Certificate is authentic, is what it says it is and has not been altered in any way? There are several approaches to this – most of us have come across Digital Signatures on digital documents or attached to emails. Indeed, the PYA has already started issuing a Digital Service Record Book secured by a Digital Signature and this has been approved by the United Kingdom’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). For context, it should be pointed out that this is a long way from a simple picture of a written signature added to a document – Digital Signatures are complex algorithms that are unique to the original document. Some of us will have heard of the term Blockchain, most probably in connection with Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum etc., that use the technology to secure the records at their core. Cryptocurrencies are just a very tiny subset of Blockchain technology and, although we might have a view about the speculative nature of cryptocurrency, the undeniable fact is that the records in the Blockchain can be trusted. Trust is the key to how they work. The simplest way to look at Blockchain is as software with special features to distribute data in a trusted manner. To do this, Blockchain fundamentally addresses the issue of provisioning trust in a process between parties, even parties that may be completely unknown to each other and/or non-trusted by the other. It is this trust in a process that differentiates it from Digital Signatures and similar approaches. It is also the key to making e-Certificates transformational. At the heart of any Blockchain implementation are the concepts of a Distributed Network, Immutable Records and Transparency. A distributed network – one where each point on the network has multiple paths to every other point on the network – is incredibly resilient. Copies of the entire Blockchain are kept at multiple points in the network and, by design, the Blockchain is Immutable (Nothing can be changed). Finally, transparency is built-in as many users (or sometimes, all) can see what is happening in real-time. In the maritime world, Blockchain use cases that are already commonplace include Container Documents (TradeLens), and Marine Insurance (Insurwave). Over a billion transactions monthly are being done via these platforms! Blockchain solutions are now being introduced for processes as diverse as Ship Registration, Port Clearances, Crew Certification and even MARPOL. All these processes share complex steps with multiple inputs from many authorities and other stakeholders. Blockchain works best in collaborative settings, even between parties who are not normally collaborators or who might even be completely unknown to each other, and the emphasis on trust in a process makes it an ideal glue to bind the entire process together – in real-time and in an automated way. Blockchain-enabled E-Certificates are dynamically generated in real-time by connecting to authentic data sources. Every data field of the certificate is verified from its original source. The benefits are instantaneous Fraud Detection, the highest level of data security, Regulatory Compliance and Data Privacy (GDPR Compliance can be built-in). For seafarers, a Blockchained Crew Certification process that is as automated as possible, and which is at least as secure as the current process is an attractive proposition. The Philippines is very close to going live with such a system “N-CAP” that combines inputs from Training Providers, Medical Examiners and National Authorities, checks that all is correct and issues the necessary certificates. The Seafarer has everything on an App on a smartphone or similar device. A Blockchain implementation of the Port Clearance process reduces the administrative burden on Ship’s Officers at what is usually a hectic and stressful time. A pilot scheme “N-MAP” has been completed in two Spanish ports and a full rollout is imminent in both as well as in a number of other Spanish ports. The Spanish authorities are also carrying out a pilot study of a Blockchained MARPOL reporting process whilst Denmark and Singapore both are working on pilot implementations of the Ship Registration process. In summary, Blockchain offers the potential of a step change across the industry. The PYA will continue to watch closely as the various pilot schemes develop towards fruition. Captain Stephen Thomas is a PYA Council Member and a member of the Advisory Board of Navozyme, who are active in the field of maritime implementation of Blockchain solutions. https://navozyme.com 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

We would like to draw all seafarers' attention to the speed limits established last year around the Cap d'Antibes. A wide area is now subject to a limit of 10kn. Speed limit around the Cap d'Antibes To All news 3 May 2019 We would like to draw all seafarers' attention to the speed limits established last year around the Cap d'Antibes. A wide area is now subject to a limit of 10kn. The official link to the information is written in French, however there is a map showing the different speed zones along with the GPS coordinates, so you can easily see which water is affected by the regulation. 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

The PYA received a list of 70 yachts that infringed on the new French Mediterranean Posidonia regulation. Find out the full details from our latest meeting with the French Prefecture Maritime (PREMAR). Infringement on Posidonia Regulation - French Mediterranean To All news 26 July 2021 The PYA is actively involved with the French Prefecture Maritime (PREMAR) to try to develop alternative solutions to the Posidonia Anchoring regulation, which has considerably restricted mooring locations for yachts on the Riviera. Last week, the PREMAR sent us a list of close to 70 yachts that infringed the regulation between 6-20 July 2021 - with dates, locations, name of the boat and whether they responded to VHF calls (most did not). Several of these yachts infringed the regulation several times. Out of the 29 repeat offenses, only three VHF calls from the authorities were answered. However, none of the yachts moved to alternative locations. Even though the PREMAR has indicated that, during this season, the regulation will be enforced with leniency, the prosecution of 11 repeat offenders will be considered by the authorities. Last Friday, the PREMAR reported to us that two repeat-repeat offender yachts, will be prosecuted. One of these yachts (Cayman flag) is currently located in Northern Sardinia. The other (UK flag) is in the Balearic Islands. In addition to a €150.000 fine, yachts could be banned from French waters. Feel free to contact our CEO, Christophe Bourillon, by phone or email, should you require additional information on the situation. Christophe Bourillon: (Tel: +33 626 837 058) or (Email: ceo@pya.org ) 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

IMO Resolution MSC,428 (98) requires all SNS systems to include measures to ensure cyber security by the 2021 annual verification date. The paper side of this requirement, namely the insertion of new procedures into a current SMS, or the writing of a separate cyber SMS, only goes part way to meeting the intent of the IMO Resolution. The operational aspect is another story. AV/IT Advisory To All news 27 March 2021 IMO Resolution MSC,428 (98) requires all SNS systems to include measures to ensure cyber security by the 2021 annual verification date. The paper side of this requirement, namely the insertion of new procedures into a current SMS, or the writing of a separate cyber SMS, only goes part way to meeting the intent of the IMO Resolution. The operational aspect is another story. Yachting is a special sector of the maritime industry, in that the onboard entertainment systems, wifi stability, and uninterrupted connectivity, are deemed of equal importance as, for example, essential navigational data and machinery monitoring. One of the yacht’s entertainment channels may display position, route, speed, ETA, weather and other associated information. So essential data becomes mixed into entertainment, creating an infotainment scenario. Coming into this mix is whatever unmonitored external data streams are being sucked in by crew and guests. Accordingly, whoever has responsibility for a yacht’s AV/IT systems has two tasks. The first is to maintain the functioning of all units associated with entertainment and with communications/connectivity. The second is to detect and prevent malicious interference with such functioning. There is at present no recognised training programme nor any flag-approved qualification for AV/IT personnel in any sector. The IMO has published guidelines on achieving cyber security, but there are at present no flag-approved cyber security qualifications. The UK MCA has published a Code of Practice, but there is no mandatory training. The MCA’s ETO COC for the merchant service is totally irrelevant to the peculiarities of the yachting AV/IT field. All that is available at present is an ad hoc assortment of online self-learning, onboard induction by equipment manufacturers or installers, and some useful classroom courses which have no official sanction. The PYA, approached the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) two years ago with a proposal to submit a non-mandatory AV/IT training matrix for yacht personnel, with sufficient credibility to attain formal MNTB recognition. Early work was interrupted by the C-19 pandemic. Recently a well-attended Zoom meeting was chaired by PYA Director John Wyborn to invite industry players to contribute ideas towards giving a recognised status to yacht AV/IT personnel. A small focus work group has now been assembled to produce a draft proposal for yacht AV/IT training and recognition. There is a general consensus that some core knowledge will be essential, but the time and monetary commitment required for mandatory classroom courses should be circumvented by using an online modular approach, incorporating some of the initiatives referred to above. For many positions on board yachts, AV/IT skills are a sine qua non for employment. The immediate intent of the PYA and partners in this enterprise is to give AV/IT yacht personnel official recognition of their skills, thereby enhancing career prospects and providing a negotiating base for appropriate salary compensation. In the longer term, the speed of technological advance and its concomitant vulnerabilities will force the IMO to mandate formal training to cover the AV/ITsystems on maritime mobile platforms. By that time, we intend to have in place an empirically tried and tested effective training system which will defend the yachting sector from such IMO over-reach as occurred during the drafting of MLC, 2006. Accordingly, any input from any crew member in any department about how to develop an approved AV/IT (Yacht) Certificate of Proficiency (COP) will be welcome. Think big, think outside the passive classroom setting, think about any personal lessons you may have learned from online instruction during the past 12 months, think for example about ways in which you can demonstrate and upload your skills, or record and transmit a successful solution to a technical AV/IT problem, to a remote monitor/instructor who can credit your work towards issuance of such COP. Any recommendations to make about online or classroom courses you have already attended? All submissions will be acknowledged, with a follow-up acknowledgement if any suggestion is incorporated into the final approved matrix. Captain Rod Hatch PYA Director deck.engineering@pya.org 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more

Bluewater has been training and recruiting crew for over 30 years and is dedicated to ensuring a high level of excellence in the industry. Our comprehensive services cover all aspects of yachting, including yacht management, charter services, and yacht sales. Committed to innovation and service excellence, Bluewater continues to lead the way in the yachting industry, with our recently launched yachting app for everything a seafarer needs to manage their career. Established in 1991 as a crew agency in Antibes, Bluewater has grown into a leading global yachting company. With a rich history of dedication and excellence, Bluewater has become synonymous with reliability and professionalism. Our comprehensive services cover all aspects of yachting, setting industry standards from crew recruitment to yacht management, charter services, and training. Committed to innovation and service excellence, Bluewater continues to lead the way in the yachting industry, providing unforgettable adventures characterised by luxury and unparalleled service. Services Career development, Excellence in training standards, MCA and RYA Approved, MLC Compliant, Perfectly matching exceptional crew to superyachts. Crew Recruitment, Crew Training, Yacht Charter, Yacht Management, Yacht Sales & Purchase Contact information crew@bluewateryaching.com / training@bluewateryachting.com https://www.bluewateryachting.com/ Tel Antibes office: +33 493 34 47 73 Bluewater Bluewater has been training and recruiting crew for over 30 years and is dedicated to ensuring a high level of excellence in the industry. Our comprehensive services cover all aspects of yachting, including yacht management, charter services, and yacht sales. Committed to innovation and service excellence, Bluewater continues to lead the way in the yachting industry, with our recently launched yachting app for everything a seafarer needs to manage their career. Visit website Back to All Partners Become a member and enjoy the exclusive offers from our partners. Become a member