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Many crew might find themselves in a position where they have extra time on their hands as they wait for lockdown restrictions to be lifted. With this in mind, now is the perfect time to get your sea service testimonials up to date before the summer season.  Top tips on getting a valid Sea Service Testimonial To All news 18 April 2020 Many crew might find themselves in a position where they have extra time on their hands as they wait for lockdown restrictions to be lifted. With this in mind, now is the perfect time to get your sea service testimonials up to date before the summer season. What do I need to do to get my testimonials verified? All members should upload copies of their documents (certified by the captain) and their testimonials into their PYA Profile. These will be processed, verified and digitally signed in your profile by SRB officers in the usual way. As the office is currently closed, we are not updating SRBs. However, we will let you know as soon as our team is back in the office and it's possible to update your physical SRB. Follow these top tips before requesting your testimonials Kim Llorente, one of our PYA advisors and former crew member, has put together some top tips to requesting testimonials which will be valid for future employment: Why ask for a testimonial? If you’ve only been hired on a seasonal contract, or would like to leave your current vessel, it’s a good idea to get proof of your sea service before you leave. Employers can refuse to give you a reference, but they have to give you a Sea Service testimonial if you request it. This will validate your sea time on that vessel and is a credible reference when looking for employment on other vessels in the future. Who can provide a testimonial? Testimonials should be signed by the vessel’s Master, Owner or Manager. For Masters looking to get a testimonial, only the vessel’s Owner or Manager can sign - self-declarations aren’t valid. Important details to remember It’s best to use the PYA’s testimonial template as this includes all the required information. Remember to always put down start and end dates. This is important as it determines the reference period of your sea time, even if you are still on board, or on a non-seasonal contract. Make sure the dates on your testimonials don’t overlap. If your employment is continuous, the new testimonial should start after the last entry in your SRB or after your last testimonial. If the dates on your testimonials overlap in any way you will be asked to submit new correct testimonials. We don’t need the original testimonials. Upload digital copies to your PYA profile. Remember to check your calculations and add your numbers up. Your recorded sea service should never exceed your employment period. To access the PYA on-line Testimonials for Deck & Engineers or if you have any doubts or questions about testimonials or sea service, please read our guidelines or contact us at srb@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

With the ever-increasing burden of yacht administration and a growing demand for remote support, today sees the launch of Virtual Pursers, a bespoke shoreside purser service for yacht owners, captains and management companies. Virtual Pursers Launch Shoreside Services for Superyachts To All news 1 October 2020 With the ever-increasing burden of yacht administration and a growing demand for remote support, today sees the launch of Virtual Pursers, a bespoke shoreside purser service for yacht owners, captains and management companies. Founded by experienced yacht pursers Bec McKeever and Dominique Smit, Virtual Pursers can confidently assume all the responsibilities of a purser on board, relieving captains of the need to employ a full-time crew member when space is limited. Managing vessel and crew administration, accounting, logistics and provisioning, Virtual Pursers offer a flexible and cost-effective solution either full time, project-based, or whenever additional support is required. With extensive knowledge and years of experience working onboard world cruisers, Bec and Dominique are also experts in itinerary planning and guest concierge, providing a meticulous service at the height of any charter season. Not only a boon for captains, Virtual Pursers offer a solution to the industry brain-drain when female pursers eventually move ashore taking their skills and expertise with them. Describing themselves as ‘‘The Purser You’ll Never Lose’, a key part of their vision is to provide an opportunity for other yacht pursers to continue their careers ashore, accommodating lifestyle changes and family commitments. “We believe the purser role can be achieved just as effectively ashore and in many cases it has already proved to be very successful,” said Dominique Smit. “We know how time-pressured captains are and how much they have to do in a day, and we can alleviate their stress by taking care of all the administration that they don’t have time for.” Full time pursers will also appreciate the additional support available from Virtual Pursers ashore. “As pursers ourselves, we know first-hand of the pressures and time constraints that pursers face,” said Bec McKeever. “We can take care of any over-flow of work such as itineraries or general administration and we can also cover periods of sick leave, holiday and rotations.” The growing trend for remote working coupled with huge advances in communications and management software make it easier than ever for experienced pursers to provide a professional and secure service from a distance. “Technology makes it easy to communicate and operate remotely and at Virtual Pursers we use secure cloud-based systems with top of the range cyber security implementations to ensure the safety and privacy of all client data,” assures Bec. Conscious of the ongoing impact of the pandemic on top of the existing complexities of yacht administration Dom said, “The feedback we’ve received from peers and the wider yachting community has been very positive, and we’re proud and excited to launch our new business in the industry that we know and love.” For further information please visit the website: https://virtualpursers.com/ Or you can contact Bec and Dominique directly: Email: info@virtualpursers.com . Tel: +44 (0)203 5140413 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

This year’s Superyacht Forum in Amsterdam saw more than 800 guests participate in the 31st edition with a host of impactful panels and workshops held over the course of the 3 days. Superyacht Forum 2023 Highlights To All news 23 November 2023 This year’s Superyacht Forum in Amsterdam saw more than 800 guests participate in the 31st edition with a host of impactful panels and workshops held over the course of the 3 days. The PYA along with other industry organisations took part in discussions on a wide range of issues from technological innovations to crew welfare. Keynote speeches and sessions included insightful anecdotes of an industry that is changing rapidly and adapting to a new reality where environmental concerns and protecting maritime ecosystems is top of the agenda. Regulations and technology debates at this year’s event along with networking sessions fostered new collaborations between governing bodies and the wider industry - highlighting key issues that we will face in the coming years ahead. “The Superyacht Forum is a fantastic event that brings together people from all sides of the industry to discuss crucial matters. Our take is that most of the issues are related to a lack of professionalism and training. The PYA is working on various initiatives to tackle some of these problems through collaboration with stakeholders. The feedback on this was positive, and we look forward to launching these initiatives next year. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Martin from The Superyacht Group for inviting the PYA to such an important event, ” said Kim Llorente, Operations Manager for the PYA. Industries also collaborated outside of the yachting space with delegates from luxury hospitality, business aviation and ocean conservation discussing important sector-wide issues that will impact all stakeholders. This year’s attendees were also reminded of the precarious position that the yachting industry is in with a renewed focus on environmental concerns - echoed by PYA’s CEO, Christophe Bourillon, who highlighted this new reality in his latest position paper . With protest movements such as Extinction Rebellion evidently visible at this year’s event, delegates were keen to unveil ambitious reforms that will help yachting become more sustainable in future years. Part of the focus on sustainability has also been to unify various metrics to measure efforts and present evidence of binding reductions of carbon emissions as well as increasing protection for fragile maritime ecosystems. The openness of this year’s event showcased how much progress is being made across sectors and internationally to address the various issues impacting yacht crews. Gallery Highlights See some of our photos from this year’s event. 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 minimum required STCW kW limitation for engine officers (as listed on the MSMC) will be determined based on the single highest rated engine power in kW.” Streamlined Certification for Yacht Engineers: New RMI Policy Clarifies Requirements To All news 8 March 2024 The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has recently formalized an existing policy that simplifies engineer certification requirements for yachts with multiple engines. This change benefits both yacht owners and engineers by aligning RMI standards with the practicalities of multi-engine configurations. Previously, some flag states might have required engineers on a yacht with two powerful engines (say, 3,000kW each) to hold a combined 6,000kW certification. However, the RMI recognizes that the single most powerful engine on board dictates the skillset needed for operation and maintenance. This update is now reflected in the Marine Notice (MN) 7-038-2, Section A 2.19 . It clearly states: “ The minimum required STCW kW limitation for engine officers (as listed on the MSMC) will be determined based on the single highest rated engine power in kW. ” In simpler terms, the engineer's qualification is based on the power of the yacht's strongest engine, not the sum of all engines . This means that for our example yacht with dual 3,000kW engines, engineers only require a 3,000kW certification, reducing potential certification hurdles. This change streamlines the certification process for engineers working on multi-engine yachts under the RMI flag, while still maintaining safety standards. It allows qualified professionals to operate within their expertise while ensuring efficient operations for yacht owners. For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@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

Major changes have been announced for the European Schengen Visa, which is used by the citizens of 104 nations, including South Africa, Russia, Egypt and the Philippines. Schengen Visa Changes to Benefit Seafarers To All news 31 January 2020 Major changes have been announced for the European Schengen Visa, which is used by the citizens of 104 nations, including South Africa, Russia, Egypt and the Philippines. The Schengen zone includes 26 European countries and is home to some of the most popular Mediterranean cruising ports, so these changes are set to benefit multiple yacht crew transiting through the region. From 2 February 2020, new revisions will see seafarers granted with an extended period to submit their visa applications and frequent visitors will be given lengthier stays. Extended application submission periods: seafarers can apply up to 9 months before their trip (as opposed to 3 months), with standard applicants also granted an application submission extension of up to 6 months. Extended visa lengths: Those who frequently travel to EU member states with a good history of returning to their country of origin within the confines of previous visas will be eligible to receive multiple-entry visas for 5 years. Online applications: Member States should also allow applications to be submitted electronically, where possible. On the downside, the Schengen Visa will be getting more expensive and costing around €80 per application. Travel and medical insurance will also still remain mandatory. For more information, visit the Schengen Visa Info website. Please note: The information provided in this article is believed to be correct at the time of publishing (31.01.2020) and has been verified to be the best of the PYA's ability, however, cannot be guaranteed. 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

Aquator Marine was founded based on the belief that the power of yacht management software is becoming increasingly more essential. Its mission is to revolutionise the way people manage their yachts in a safer, more cost-effective and interactive way. New PYA Partner - Aquator Marine To All news 25 July 2022 The PYA would like to welcome our newest partner Aquator Marine , headquartered in Singapore, which develops Yacht Management Software with a fully configurable, collaborative and digitally secure web and mobile application. It consists of extensively customisable components that can be seamlessly imported, edited and organised. The application allows for personalisation so you can make requests, plan projects, assign tasks and collaborate to track progress and more. Everything can be managed through your phone! The Yacht Management Software helps with the day-to-day management of a vessel, accounting, insurance, crew, and ISM advice. It is also possible to manage all your crew's information in one place and generate reports to export all your data. Yacht Management software reimagined is here! Aquator is designed for yacht owners, captains, crew and companies to support complex workflows. Contact them by email for more information or a free demo. 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

Watch CHIRP Maritime's latest video which explains how the use of mobile phones and other personal electronics can lead to serious safety issues whilst on duty. Mobile phone use onboard poses safety risk To All news 7 July 2021 It's no surprise that the use of mobile phones whilst operating a vehicle or machinery poses a major safety risk and has led to multiple accidents globally. CHIRP Maritime has created this safety initiative for the maritime industry, which is centred on the misuse of personal devices (mob phones, mp4 players, tablets) whilst on duty, that may cause a distraction with potentially serious safety implications. CHIRP Maritime's 'SEA OF DISTRACTIONS' video 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 French authorities have provided official clarification regarding social security payments for yacht crew. French Social Security Clarification To All news 25 June 2018 The French authorities have provided official clarification regarding social security payments for yacht crew. The document, provided in French and English, has answered the question of how French residency is determined (more than 6 months in total during a 12 month period), and also specifies that time spent in the shipyard does not count towards the days you have spent in France / French waters. It also confirms that you do not need to subscribe to ENIM if you can show that you have suitable equivalent insurance from a different provider in place. Please do take the time to read this document. English Version Social Security clarification from French authorities - ENGLISH .pdf Download PDF • 78KB French Version Social Security clarification from French authorities - ENGLISH .pdf Download PDF • 78KB We are grateful to the French authorities for providing clear explanation and for being receptive to the negotiations from the yachting industry. 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

Yachting is awash with dilemmas, and what is a just culture to you might not be to others. Agendas are aplenty... Mentoring in Yachting - A Peculiar Challenge? To All news 27 April 2021 So if you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, maybe what you need is a confidante whose personal situation is wholly unrelated to you and what you do. To those of you who read my 'Myth-Busting HELM' article, this looks a step further into how masters and their HODs might deal with a disturbingly thorny issue; the unwelcome question that is both awkward and multifaceted. One, you neither want nor like it and would much prefer a quieter life; two, what value and hideous risks, for example, might arise by invoking the ‘company’ DPA already burdened with innumerable conflicts of interest. And three, you’re flummoxed – damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Welcome to command. Who do you turn to? Read the full story 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

A number of leading associations have joined forces to support the yachting industry across a wide range of areas following the signing of a new comprehensive agreement in Marseille, France. © Riviera Yachting Network Yachting industry associations join forces in the Western Mediterranean To All news 14 February 2024 A number of leading associations have joined forces to support the yachting industry across a wide range of areas following the signing of a new comprehensive agreement in Marseille, France. Navigo, Riviera Yachting Network and Balearic Marine Cluster together signed a memorandum of understanding for the creation of Yachting West Med with the aim of promoting the Mediterranean area as an ideal yachting destination. The agreement, which was announced by Navigo, was signed during the Euromaritime trade fair held in Marseille, and sees three entities joining forces to work on common themes from regulation to events, training and more. The PYA took part in discussions around the framework of the new agreement, considering the interests of yacht crew in the region, having held a number of talks at trade conventions in the past year. “This agreement is a positive step forward for our industry and brings together key stakeholders from across the Mediterranean region to forge new partnerships and development opportunities for all involved,” said Sophie Rodrigues, Office Finances & Events Manager. The Western Mediterranean," a spokesperson for Navigo recalls, "is the world's leading area for sailing and yacht refitting, where 50% of the world's fleet of yachts transit, and are refitted and maintained here. Italy, France and Spain, in more or less equal proportions from one country to the other, hold the international lead in this respect; Italy is also the base for new-build shipyards - with 6 of the 20 largest in the world.” Areas of focus will include training to establish development paths and professional courses suitable for combining the knowledge of disciplines across the industry, enriching crews with a combined multicultural experience. The forming of the new agreement will also enable the collective promotion of the West Med as a leading yachting destination and allows all participants to jointly work on events, innovations and networking. "The close and formalised alliance already sees 400 companies in the network, which will have the opportunity to strengthen their transnational network and generate important and profitable connections. This agreement between the three most important regions in the world for the production and refit of yachts, in terms of number and type of companies represented, will provide increasingly precise data on the sector of activity, B2B exchanges useful for the development of the companies, and a place for proposals and the comparison of innovations and ideas," said Katia Balducci, President of Navigo. With the continued growth of the yachting industry in the Mediterranean, the implementation of long-term strategic collaboration will help cross-industry projects and development. This has been a particularly important focus in recent years with the shift towards renewable energy and new technologies that will emerge as the next generation of yachting vessels enter service. "Being stronger together is the core philosophy of each of our clusters; it is the same philosophy that drives our cross-cluster agreement," added Laurent Falaize, President of Riviera Yachting Network, "in fact, although we are competitors, we can share common ambitions for attractiveness and sustainable development. "As leading clusters in our respective regions, we have identified common challenges that will weigh not only on our companies but on all sectors. In the next 10 years, companies will be confronted with major challenges such as ecological transition, big data management and transgenerational transition," explained Antonio Salom, President of the Balearic Marine Cluster. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, the associations will begin to work on new projects in the coming months and years ahead that will drive forward investment and improvements across the industry. 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