Search on page

Working on a Russian-linked vessel? Get the latest advice on your financial and legal status. PYA Advice for Crew on Russian-Linked Vessels To All news 8 March 2022 Watch Webinar There are concerns among some of our PYA members regarding their legal and financial status if they are working on yachts which are Russian flagged or are owned by Russian individuals or Russian entities. The current crisis is a constantly evolving situation, and we are all in uncharted waters. The PYA is following the situation closely and has been in direct contact with its legal adviser, and with three REG members - MCA, Cayman Islands and Isle of Man. We are also offering crew free personalised advice via our PYA Member Assistance Service, plus a discount on our membership (see details below). Moving a Russian-Linked Yacht Recently, the Cayman Islands Shipping registry office in the South of France has received calls from some captains and crew on yachts with Russian connections, currently in Italian ports, who are worried about the implications if they were to assist in moving these yachts from Italy into international waters or “safe havens”. Some Russian-connected yachts have already arrived in the Maldives and Montenegro, however, their ultimate “safe haven” there may not be assured. Provided that a yacht has not been formally placed under a detention order by flag or port state, and complies with all normal departure procedures, then moving a yacht from A to B in compliance with orders from the usual operational command centre would not place the crew in legal jeopardy. Moving, or attempting to move, a yacht that is under formal detention would constitute a serious offence. The UK has recently announced that it has banned Russian-linked vessels from docking at any of its ports, whereas the EU is still allowing the entry of Russian-linked vessels which are not subject to sanction. Crew on Sanctioned Vessels Overall, the legal situation is that the owner of a vessel is the person or entity listed as such on their vessel's Certificate of Registry. Crew may actually be employed by the vessel owner, or more commonly by an offshore “cell” entity. They may or may not know the identity of the yacht’s beneficial owner(s). Where such owners have been identified and sanctioned by state authorities, their assets, including yachts, face denial of access to the said owners or their representatives. This likely means that, in the case of a sanctioned yacht, the crew would, after an uncertain period, be required by the local port state officials to leave the vessel, which would then become a “Navire Désarme”. The concerns for crew members then become (i) where do they go next, and (ii) how to recover any outstanding wages. Leaving a Sanctioned Vessel In answer to (i) above, there will be several factors to consider. If the yacht is in an EU port, then EU crew on board are free to consider whether to go home, or travel to or remain in an EU port where they can seek new employment while dealing with recuperation costs and unpaid wages. Non-EU crew with or without Schengen visas and whose 90 days have not expired, may also return to or remain in the EU, but they have no right to approach crew agencies or otherwise seek new employment. Legally, they need to return home and apply for a new job from there. To avoid any entanglement with the vagaries of US immigration laws, non-US crew on a sanctioned vessel in a US port should, if required to leave such vessel, leave the US as soon as possible. However, as US immigration regulations require all crew to hold a valid visa to enter a port, there should be no issue leaving the vessel. Russian nationals would find themselves in a particularly invidious situation on a sanctioned vessel. If funding were to dry up, it is sure that individually their shipmates would not see them go hungry. However, as a group they would elicit little public sympathy anywhere, and their best course of action would be to return home as soon as possible and by any means. Repatriation costs Repatriation costs should be paid by the yacht owner. In the case of commercially registered yachts, insurance coverage is compulsory to cover such costs in the event of an owner’s inability to do so. However, access to such pay-out may not be a simple process for any individual crew member. The flag state then has a responsibility to assist the stranded seafarer with repatriation. If the flag response is slow or is unforthcoming, one’s consulate would normally assist with repatriation, or the port state may intervene to assist in returning the crew home. (In the foregoing scenarios, the flag, consular or port state authorities would then have the option to recover costs from the insuring entity). Recovery of unpaid wages With regard to concern (ii), unpaid wages (including leave and any other contractual benefits) may only be recovered after the fact. No pre-emptive action is possible by any port or flag state authority, or by any seafarers’ organization of any kind. In order to protect their claims, seafarers should remain with the vessel as long as possible, and assemble a portfolio of evidence of entitlement to wages. Documentation should include, but not be limited to, a SEA or other contract, previous pay slips, copies of relevant notations in the Official Log Book, copies of crew lists, and copies of any crew uniform issuance list(s) on which their signature occurs. The PYA is working with Maritime Lawyers who can provide our members with further assistance to claim unpaid wages. Free Advice - PYA’s Member Assistance Service (MAS) In any situation involving crew’s unpaid or disputed wages, if there is no satisfactory outcome achieved by the efforts of the captain or management company, the next port of call is flag state. Exceptionally, e.g. in France under specific circumstances, port state may enforce payment of retained wages. Regardless, our members should also contact the PYA office for reference to our Member Assistance Service (MAS), which is a free service available to all crew, including non-members. This service has a track record of successfully resolved wage disputes, and is totally private and exclusively confidential between only the parties concerned. There is no public disclosure of the identities of crew, owner, management or yacht, thereby protecting the reputation and career path of our involved member. (It is only an extremis, as for example an entire crew remaining unpaid by an intransigent or vanished yacht owner, that resolution can only be obtained by resort to court action, with its attendant undesirable publicity). Please note, we will be following up shortly with some additional advice. Captain Rod Hatch PYA Director for Training (Deck) Useful contact details PYA’s Member Assistance Service (MAS): advice@pya.org French Mediterranean Coastguard: +33 (0) 970278692 Flag states Cayman Islands Shipping Registry: France (Valbonne): +33 (0) 489027609 Marshall Islands Registry: yachtcrew@register-iri.com Virgin Islands Shipping Registry: 1(284)-468-9646 | vishipping@bvimaritime.vg Transport Malta: +356 21222203 Red Ensign Group: REGsecretariat@mcga.gov.uk Help the PYA Support Crew in Need The PYA represents yacht crew worldwide and can only continue to provide our advice and support services through the support of our members and partners. To further grow our capacity and membership network, the PYA is offering all crew a 20% discount on new memberships until 30 April 2022, using the code ‘ADVICE22’. More news 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 Summary of the Sea Changes Forum 2025 In September, we hosted our annual Sea Changes Forum, bringing together key voices from across the yachting industry. The event delivered encouraging updates for the sector and inspiring insights into how we can continue to evolve and improve as a community. Below, you will find a summary of the presentations shared by our expert panelists, along with access to each full presentation for further details. Read more The PYA Christmas Ball Returns for Its 33rd Edition The 33rd edition of the PYA Christmas Ball returns at the iconic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes on Friday 5th December 2025, this year with a glamorous 1960s theme. Join us for a night of celebration with the yachting community — featuring a gourmet dinner, live band, raffle prizes, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow professionals from across the industry. A much-loved PYA tradition, the Christmas Ball promises elegance, entertainment, and a touch of vintage sparkle as we come together to close the year in style. Read more

There are some excellent opportunities throughout the year to sponsor a PYA event and showcase your company. With members from over 90 countries around the world, as well as connections with all the top management, charter, training and recruitment companies, not to mention the yachting press, the PYA is in a unique position to be able to promote your brand within the yachting industry. Our events are always extremely well-attended, and receive excellent feedback, so sponsoring a PYA event is a sure-fire way to get yourself noticed by the right people. In exchange for your support, we are able to offer you promotional coverage before, during and after the event. As our events receive a lot of attention in the press and on social media, your brand will receive a lot of circulation. The specifics of what is included will vary from event to event, but generally we can offer our sponsors: Banners displayed during the event Brochures on display Option to distribute promotional 'goodies' at event Logo on printed backdrop behind speakers/ photos Logo on any takeaways from the event (e.g. photos, goody bags) Company name and logo in event write up in Yachting Matters magazine (10,000 copies distributed to yachting industry) Written profile of your company on PYA website and social media before event Logo and company name promoted via PYA's active and engaged social media platforms Logo sent out via email to PYA members Free entry Networking with attendees, invitees and speakers As we are a non-profit association, we rely on the support of other companies in the industry to be able to continue the huge amount of work we do on behalf of the yachting industry and the people who work in it. None of our events, or our involvement at seminars and meetings around the world would be possible without the help of our generous sponsors. So a partnership is very much of mutual benefit! Depending on your budget and target audience, we can recommend the right event and package for you to get involved with. We seek sponsorship for both our educational and our social events. As well as financial sponsorship, you can also help out by providing drinks and/or food, prizes and other services. To enquire about sponsorship, please contact us. Event sponsorship There are some excellent opportunities throughout the year to sponsor a PYA event and showcase your company.

We require PYA members, users of our services, registrants to our events and users of our website to agree to our Privacy Policy before using our services We require PYA members, users of our services, registrants to our events and users of our website to agree to our Privacy Policy before using our services, so we recommend that you take the time to read this document carefully. If you have any questions, please contact the PYA at info@pya.org . When using our sea service verification process, you agree to let us use your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy . You also agree to let us share certain data with the person who has signed the testimonial in order to verify its contents. It is your responsibility to ensure that when somebody signs your testimonial, they agree to pass on their personal data to the PYA (name, address, email, phone number, company/yacht, job title, CoC number) so that we can lawfully process it for the purpose of verifying your sea service. Our new GDPR-compliant testimonial templates include this statement as a standard. PYA Terms and Conditions We require PYA members, users of our services, registrants to our events and users of our website to agree to our Privacy Policy before using our services

You are a Chef? Learn everything you need to know about the MCA's Ships' Cook Certificate What is it? The Ships’ Cook Certificate is a mandatory requirement for all chefs on commercially registered vessels operating more than 60 miles offshore, or with 10 or more crew on board. This qualification is run in accordance with the requirements of MLC (Maritime Labour Convention) and the ILO (International Labour Organisation) with respect to ship’s cooks and other catering personnel to confirm that applicants have the necessary skills and knowledge. Requirements be at least 18 years of age have completed a minimum of 1 month of actual sea service service in any capacity have completed training in accordance with the learning outcomes and assessment criteria set out in annex 1 and annex 2 MSN 1846 (M) MLC 2006 food and catering ship's cooks and catering staff - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) have completed the following standards of training certification and watchkeeping (STCW) basic safety courses: personal survival techniques (STCW Code A-VI/1-1) fire prevention and fire fighting (STCW Code A-VI/1-2) elementary first aid (STCW Code A-VI/1-3) personal safety and social responsibility (STCW Code A-VI/1-4) security awareness hold a current seafarer medical fitness certificate (ENG 1) or equivalent. How to apply Complete the MSF 4395 application form and post it together with the required documentation by post to: Registry of Shipping & Seamen Anchor Court Keen Road Cardiff CF24 5JW Should you not want to send your originals, we are authorised to issue certified copies for the MCA. Ship Cooks Certificate To Knowledge Base

View all the webinars we've hosted Explore our recent webinars and discover insights and perspectives from yachting profesionals across the industry. Below you will find a list of our recently hosted webinars with guests sharing their knowledge and expertise as well as providing guidance and advice for yacht crews in different parts of the world. If you are interested in hosting a webinar with the PYA, please get in contact with us. Webinar 31: Working in Enclosed Spaces Webinar 30: Sexual Harassment, Bullying, Harassment and Abuse-Know Your Rights! Webinar 29: Morocco & Tunisia Yachting Destination Webinar 28: STCW Endorsements & Global Acceptance - Clearing the Myths and Misconceptions Webinar 27: Yacht New Builds & Refits Webinar 26: Social Security and Crew Insurance Webinar 25: Greece Yachting Destination Webinar 24: Crew Welfare Mental Wellbeing and Trauma Webinar 23: Visas and Crew Immigration Webinar 22: Lithium-Ion Battery Solutions and Safety Management on Your Yacht Webinar 21: What is the meaning of "Leadership" In The Yachting Industry? Webinar 20: Lithium-ion Batteries Safety Awareness with Seascope France Webinar 19: PYA Welfare Group & the Flag States Webinar 18: Scandinavia Yachting Destination Webinar 17: Introducing the PYA Welfare Group & talking about Bullying and Harassment Webinar 16: Advice for crew on Russian-linked vessels Webinar 15: EU Immigration Regulations for Crew Webinar 14: Women in Yachting Webinar 13: Medical Onboard Webinar 12: Posidonia anchoring regulations in French waters Webinar 11: Brexit advice for yacht crew Webinar 10: Caribbean Travel Regulations Webinar 9: Yacht Crew Training Update Webinar 8: Preparing to work in the USA & Caribbean Webinar 7: The Benefits of Service Record Book & Seaman's Books Webinar 6: Conflict Resolution & Leadership Onboard 9th September 2020 Webinar 5: Mediterranean Season Update 18th June 2020 Webinar 4: PYA Seachanges Webinar Webinar 3: Yachting Post Lockdown Update 14th May Webinar 2: Yachting Post lockdown 30th April Webinar 1: COVID 19 Situation update Webinars To Knowledge Base

What is the Automatic Renewal and how it works If you pay by Stripe (only) , you can choose to renew your membership automatically every year. This feature is unfortunately, unavailable for other payment methods. You can change this setting at any time in the Payments tab in your profile. You will receive an email notification from Stripe about the upcoming renewal 7 days before your card will be charged. You will receive an email reminder if your card is going to expire within a month. You will receive an email if the payment has failed. If you need more information, please contact office@pya.org Automatic Renewal What is the Automatic Renewal and how it works

The Superyacht Qualification Framework (SYQF) is an Erasmus+ cooperation partnership in Vocational Education and Training (VET), co-funded by the European Union. The Superyacht Qualification Framework (SYQF) is an Erasmus+ cooperation partnership in Vocational Education and Training (VET), co-funded by the European Union. The PYA is assisting the project to achieve it's aim to establish a comprehensive, industry-aligned qualification framework for the superyacht sector, ensuring consistent standards, professional recognition, and sustainable career pathways for yacht crew worldwide. Main objectives Integrate sustainability, inclusion, and diversity into vocational education and training. Strengthen collaboration between education providers and industry stakeholders. Standardise qualifications within the superyacht industry to enhance workforce mobility and recognition across Europe. Develop and accredit structured training modules and qualification descriptorsaligned with industry needs. Build an online repository to ensure long-term accessibility of the framework and related resources. Key information FIELD : Vocational Education and Training (VET) DURATION : 30 months CONSORTIUM : 6 partners COUNTRIES INVOLVED : Malta, France, Italy, Greece and the UK PROJECT TITLE : Superyacht Qualification Framework PROJECT COORDINATOR : MaritimeMT ASSOCIATED PARTNERS : 1 Partner NATIONAL AGENCY : EUPA Malta, Fondi.EU Partners MaritimeMT, based in Birzebbuga, Malta, is the leading partner and coordinator of the SYQF project. Established in 2011, MaritimeMT sets the course for maritime careers through accredited training and career solutions. Guided by its vision to become a globally accessible maritime campus, it continues to lead in delivering excellence in maritime education and professional development. The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) represents and upholds the interests of yacht crew and yachting companies, advocating on their behalf before maritime and international regulatory authorities. Since 1991 the PYA has been the trusted source of information and guidance for yacht crew globally. Established in 1991, Bluewater is an industry-leading training provider for yacht crew with maritime schools based in Antibes and Palma, offering courses accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), delivered by experienced instructors drawn from maritime and yachting backgrounds. Bluewater also provides crew placement, yacht charter, yacht management and yacht brokerage services. Metropolitan College, established in 1982, is Greece's leading College for University Studies, recognised for its academic excellence, innovation, and international collaborations. With 12 faculties, 8 campuses, and over 100 academic programmes offered in partnership with prestigious Universities abroad, it provides high-quality education aligned with global academic standards. IAMI is a global network of maritime training and education providers, who deliver training across the maritime sector in Merchant Navy, Superyachts, Towing, Restricted Waters/Tonnage, and Fishing Industries. IAMI also provides assessment and certification services for Merchant Navy, Fishing, Superyacht and Apprenticeships, as well as the GUEST Program for Accreditation of industry led training across all Superyacht departments. IAMI leads in the promotion of quality maritime education and assessments. The I.S.Y.L. Foundation is Tuscany's ITS Academy in Viareggio, offering specialised training for careers in yachting, transport, and logistics. It equips students with practical, industry-driven skills that match the needs of the Italian yachting sector. Graduates earn an EU-recognised Higher Technician Diploma issued by the Italian Ministry of Education, which also carries university credits. The academy works closely with local industry to ensure strong career pathways. The Superyacht Alliance for Professional Standards is a nonprofit organisation founded by the major trade associations to elevate the level of professionalism in the superyacht industry. Developing qualification programs and supporting professional communities, including think tanks for specific groups, are the main activities of the Alliance. Latest Article November 24, 2025 Erasmus+, Press Releases by Maritime MT Follow the project on social media for updates. www.instagram.com (@erasmusplus_syqf) • Instagram photos and videos 15 Followers, 7 Following, 3 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from (@erasmusplus_syqf) www.linkedin.com Erasmus+ Superyacht Qualification Framework (SYQF) | LinkedIn Erasmus+ Superyacht Qualification Framework (SYQF) | 41 followers on LinkedIn. The Erasmus+ Superyacht Qualification Framework project is here to transform training in the superyacht industry! | The Erasmus+ Superyacht Qualification Framework (SYQF) project is a European initiative designed to advance vocational education and training (VET) in the superyacht sector. Objectives: SYQF aims to establish a comprehensive, industry-aligned qualification framework that standardises qualifications, promotes workforce mobility, and embeds sustainability and inclusivity in training. Through collaboration between education providers and industry stakeholders, the project ensures a skilled, adaptable, and future-ready workforce. Pictures On 25th November 2025 in Malta, project partners and PYA CEO Christophe Bourillon began drafting the core backbone of the Superyacht Qualification framework. Bringing key industry leaders together in one room for brainstorming and discussion proved profoundly valuable, demonstrating a unified approach to creating significant, positive impact for the industry. Several strategic decisions were made to ensure that the resulting standards are practical and aligned with global demands. During our Christmas Ball 2025, the SYQF project banner sparked many conversations about the work currently in the pipeline. Superyacht Qualification Framework To Knowledge Base

How to obtain certified copies of your documents Certified copies of documents For PYA purposes The certification of your documents can be done by anyone holding a C o C, a management company, a training provider, or other professionals such as doctors, lawyers or teachers, who declare that the copies are true copies of the originals. W e cannot process your testimonials without confirming your identity so your file will remain pending until you upload a certified copy of your passport . --- Text sample: "I certify that this/these is a/are true copy/ies of the original/s." Full name, COC number and issuing authority (if available), stamp (if available), signature. --- Whoever is certifying your doc uments can: write the declaration on each copy; send an email to certificates@pya.org with the above text , mentioning each certificate, while you upload simple copies of your certificates to your profile; write the declaration in a Word/PDF document and mention each certificate and upload it together with the simple copies of your documents to your profile. For MCA purposes (applying for an NoE) Please note that for us to issue certified copies that are accepted by the MCA we must see the originals first. We cannot make certified copies from certified copies unless they come from one of our Agents. If you are in the Antibes area, we can arrange an appointment for you to come with your certificates . Please contact certificates@pya.org . Alternatively, you can go to any notary public or MCA-approved nautical colleges or IYT , or Your Maritime Administration or MCA Surveyors or other MCA-approved organisations (you must contact the MCA directly for these). Certified Copies How to obtain certified copies of your documents

The PYA takes privacy seriously and is committed to providing you with clear and comprehensive information on how your personal data is collected and used. When using our sea service verification process, you agree to let us use your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You also agree to let us share certain data with the person who has signed the testimonial in order to verify its contents. It is your responsibility to ensure that when somebody signs your testimonial, they agree to pass on their personal data to the PYA (name, address, email, phone number, company/yacht, job title, CoC number) so that we can lawfully process it for the purpose of verifying your sea service. Our new GDPR-compliant testimonial templates include this statement as standard. We require users to agree to this policy before using our services, so we recommend that you take the time to read this document carefully. If you have any questions, please contact the PYA at info@pya.org . New Privacy Policy and Terms of Use 2024 - final .pdf Download PDF • 305KB Privacy Policy The PYA takes privacy seriously and is committed to providing you with clear and comprehensive information on how your personal data is collected and used.

What is a Seaman Discharge Book (SDB), how to obtain one and what makes it different Discharge Books are not a primary identity document. They are initially issued by the flag state of the vessel on which a seafarer is employed or the flag state of the country of origin and are intended to be a record of service. Application for the first issuance of a Discharge Book has to be passed through an owner’s representative, such as a captain or appointed manager. You must have a contract to apply . The entries record the dates and ports of joining and leaving the vessel. It cannot be filled in retroactively. Unless otherwise proscribed by the issuing flag state, a Discharge Book can be carried by the seafarer onto other vessels under different flags , and the entries will still be valid as a record of service on all vessels recorded in the Book. It is essential to understand that in the context of a Discharge Book issued by a Red Ensign Group flag state, “service” relates only to the period of employment in a vessel . The nature of service is not attested to, except that it was performed in a certain rank. That is why you will still need to obtain Sea Service testimonials . A Discharge Book is a valid record of a seafarer’s employment as required under MLC, 2006, and may form part of the evidence to be submitted for validation of sea service at various stages of a yacht crew member’s career. As stated above, it is not intended to be an identity document with the same international acceptance as a passport. It may be useful when travelling on a seaman’s ticket to attest to an airline representative that the ticket holder is a genuine seafarer. Some non-European immigration authorities may prefer to see a Discharge Book before issuance of a local shore pass. If you are a UK citizen or you work on a UK-flagged yacht, you can apply for an MCA Seaman's Book . If you work on a Malta (TM) -flagged yacht, you can apply for a Transport Malta Seaman's Book . If you work on a Cayman Islands (CI) -flagged yacht, you can apply for a Cayman Islands Seaman's Book . If you work on a Marshall Islands (MI) -flagged yacht, you can apply for a Marshall Islands Seaman's Book . If you work on an Isle of Man (IOM) -flagged yacht, they are no longer issuing Seaman's Books. They now offer the Seafarer's Record of Sea Service . If you work on a British Virgin Islands ( BVI )-flagged yacht, you can apply for a British Virgin Islands Seaman's Book . If you work on a Cook Islands -flagged yacht, you can apply for a Cook Islands Seaman's Book . The application is to be sent electronically to seafarers@maritimecookislands.com The Digital Service Record Book (D-SRB) is intended to provide detailed evidence of approved courses taken, qualifications obtained, and the associated specific types of sea service , such as actual sea service, stand-by service, yard service, etc. The D-SRB is issued by the PYA only. All entries are made only after testimonials regarding the service to be entered have been scrutinized and checked. It can be filled in retroactively . The OOW 3000 GT Training Record Book for Deck is published by the MCA and locally printed by the PYA for members and is part of the requirements for obtaining an OOW 3000 Yacht CoC. Entries are certified by the Captain or Chief Officer on board. It contains a detailed record of each task required. Latest update: 09/08/2023 Seaman Discharge Book (SDB) and others To Knowledge Base