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Hill Dickinson’s journey began in 1810 when it quickly established itself as a leading maritime law firm. Our progressive CSR programme enables employees to participate in active corporate citizenship. With more than 190 partners and 1,300 people we operate from offices in London, Monaco, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Sheffield, Piraeus and Singapore. Hill Dickinson LLP Hill Dickinson’s journey began in 1810 when it quickly established itself as a leading maritime law firm. With more than 190 partners and 1,300 people we operate from offices in London, Monaco, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Sheffield, Piraeus and Singapore. Visit website Back to All Partners ​ Become a member and enjoy the exclusive offers from our partners. Become a member

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

​ PYA announces official lineup for Sea Changes Forum 2023 To All news 21 September 2023 This year’s Sea Changes Forum in Monaco is set to be the PYA’s biggest year yet with a host of guest speakers confirmed for the 2023 edition. Among the topics of debate for this year’s Sea Changes Forum include updates on industry certification, digitisation, career progression including recruitment, retention, soft skill training and the importance of mapping the oceans. Taking place at the International Hydrographic Organisation’s HQ during this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, the Sea Changes Forum speakers include Capt. Rodney A. Hatch, PYA Director of Deck Training Mr Ajit Jacob, Chief Examiner for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Mr Richard Falk, Director of Training and Qualifications for the Royal Yachting Association Miss Joey Meen, IAMI Guest Program Director Mr John Wyborn, Co-founder and Director of Bluewater Miss Angela Wallace, PYA Director of Interior Training and Head of the PYA Welfare Group Mr Jo Assael, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) Yacht Register, International Registries Inc Mr John Everett Nyberg, Technical Director of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) Following on from the success of last year’s event , the PYA has held a number of discussions with the industry to formulate this year’s agenda with the aim of improving the welfare of yacht crew around the world and to address pressing issues including recruitment and retention. Christophe Bourillon, CEO for the PYA said: “We are grateful to have the ongoing support of the industry for our Sea Changes Forum. This is a great opportunity to explore and discuss the various issues that will shape the future of our industry, and we would like to thank all our participating guest speakers and sponsors who will be taking part this year.” This year’s Sea Changes Forum also welcomes a record number of sponsors with strong support from across the industry. These include: Ocean Drive IAMI GUEST PROGRAM Bluewater IHO MYBA YPI Crew Seascope Following this year’s conference there will be a special event taking place on the rooftop of the IHO venue, providing networking opportunities for guests in attendance. To access the full agenda view the PDF below: Sea Changes 2023 Agenda .pdf Download PDF • 419KB More news PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership. Read more Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024 This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey. Read more PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. Read more

​ Yacht Job Scam Alert - Disclaimer To All news 22 June 2021 Following the recent notification by the PYA (direct email and blog post ) which revealed the modus operandi of an entity seeking to defraud people looking for positions in the yachting industry, more information has come to light as the PYA pursued further investigations and received feedback from other parties concerned. It appears that an Eastern European cyberspace entity calling itself TMT Yachts Holding, has compiled a fake web profile by stripping parts from the web pages of an authentic yacht management company, TWW Yachts, using their logo, and an authentic commercial ship company C-bed Holding A/S, and illegally displaying the logos of other prime organizations such as Lloyd’s, on their material. In addition, they have been pushing out crudely butchered employment “contracts”, purporting to come from Lesia Group in Guernsey, or from the PYA. Presumably such false contracts are intended to serve as bait when offering nonsensical courses, to be paid for upfront by job candidates as a pre-condition of employment. This Disclaimer is to affirm that the PYA does not issue crew contracts, and that any and all implied or overt affiliations between TMT Yachts Holding and the PYA, or Lesia Group, or TWW Yachts, or YPI, or any individual yacht named by TMT Yachts Holding, or any other legitimate body which may have been targeted by TMT Yachts Holding, are totally spurious and invalid. Our members are advised to ignore all postings, job offers, training courses, and any other online content emanating from TMT Yachts Holding. If any direct contact has already been made, the safe approach is to sever it forthwith, and change passwords to all personal and financial records. More news PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership. Read more Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024 This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey. Read more PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. Read more

​ Understanding Social Security on a Malta Flagged Vessel To All news 1 September 2022 Have you started working onboard a vessel flying the Maltese flag and noticed approximately €50 per week taken out of your salary? No need for alarm, this is your Malta Social Security contribution. Do I have to pay it? If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen or resident, then the short answer is yes! EU Regulation 883/2004, states seafarers who are either EU/EEA or Swiss citizens or residents and are employed on board a vessel flying the flag of Malta must be insured under Malta’s social security system. However, there are two exceptions to this ruling. For EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens or residents, if the employer and employee reside in the same Member State, and the seafarer is affiliated in that State for social security, they do not need to pay the contribution as seafarers can only be subject to a social security system of one Member State. For non-residents of the EU/EEA/Switzerland working on a Malta-flagged vessel, there is the possibility to opt for the social security system of their non-EU/EEA/Switzerland country of residence. What do I have to do? You don’t have to do anything! The employer submits the registration application on the seafarer’s behalf, who is then issued a PE number and an income tax number and is registered in Malta for social security. The registration and the payment of social security contributions for the seafarer is done by the employer who remits both the employer and employee's share of social security contributions. Therefore, there is a deduction from your salary. Some yachts cover this cost for the seafarer in which case you won’t even notice, but your benefits are still accumulating . The method of calculation of social security contributions is based on a percentage of the weekly salary and is capped. In 2022, the capped rate for both employer and employee is €49.97 per week with a €1.50 Maternity Contribution. Please note that your weekly contribution starts on a Monday, so if you start on a Tuesday, you won’t contribute for that first week. What do I get? The benefits a person insured in Malta enjoy include: A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or/and a S1 form (UK Healthcare) Unemployment benefits in their country of residence (if EU/EEA/Switzerland) Pensions with portability of rights – e.g. A person has worked for more than one year in two or more of any EU/EEA state or in Switzerland, then the EU Regulation 883/2004 requires each of these states to pay a rate of benefit proportional to the length of insurance periods in such states. (EU/EEA/Switzerland) A Social Security number - Seafarer residents in the EU, who are citizens of non-EU countries often find it difficult to obtain a social security number in the EU state of residence. So, obtaining an EU social security number in Malta allows them to be recognised in the EU. In conclusion, the Maltese Social Security System is one of the most cost-effective jurisdictions for social security contributions and can be used in all EU/EEA states and Switzerland. If you are a seafarer on a Malta-registered yacht, know that you are paying contributions and can benefit from the contributions paid! More news PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership. Read more Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024 This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey. Read more PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. Read more

© Mark Harpur MCA introduces new route for UK Officer of the Watch (OOW) yachts Certificate of Competency (CoC) To All news 5 December 2023 The MCA have updated their guidance for applicants looking to gain an UK OOW yachts Certificate of Competency (less than 3000 GT in an unlimited area, II/1 Certificate of Competency). As the size of superyacht vessels continues to grow, acquiring the necessary experience for certifications like the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or IYT Master of Yachts/Mate Limited 200 GT has become more challenging. In response, the MCA outlined MIN 580, providing a new avenue for individuals engaged on yachts exceeding 24 meters. This route allows them to secure an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC or IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate less than 200 GT CoC as an alternative option. The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC serves as a substitution for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC when applying for an OOW yachts certification, catering to vessels under 3000 GT, with an unlimited operational area, II/1 classification. Eligibility for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal examination entails candidates possessing 800 miles and 30 days onboard vessels less than 24m in length. However, completion of an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course can lessen this requirement to 400 miles and 20 days aboard vessels of any size. Securing an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC or an IYT Master of Yachts Coastal Mate less than 200 GT CoC allows entry into the EDH course. However, holders of the IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate less than 200 GT CoC are ineligible to acquire a UK Master, II/2, code vessels less than 200 GT CoC. The MCA acknowledges these certificates for manning UK-registered vessels in specific capacities and areas, albeit without assured international recognition. The parameters of this acknowledgement remain subject to continuous evaluation and approval by the MCA and the RYA/IYT. To get further details about the new route you can download the marine information note to find out more. The PYA is authorised by the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency to issue Yacht Rating Certificates which are needed by some vessels to comply with their safe manning requirements. If you are looking to get a Yacht Rating Certificate verified, explore our service , or as a full member you can access this for free. More news PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership. Read more Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024 This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey. Read more PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. Read more

Kim Woodey, Director and Lead Trainer of KDW Training, is IAMI GUEST Accredited Interior trainer and runs a range of courses for yacht crew, helping them gain an in-depth understanding of the highest levels of service, housekeeping and organisational skills. All courses are offered onboard, including the option for bespoke training courses, tailored to the exact requirements of your team and yacht. KDW Training Kim Woodey, Director and Lead Trainer of KDW Training, is IAMI GUEST Accredited Interior trainer and runs a range of courses for yacht crew, helping them gain an in-depth understanding of the highest levels of service, housekeeping and organisational skills. Visit website Back to All Partners ​ Become a member and enjoy the exclusive offers from our partners. Become a member

​ MCA releases MIN 655 To All news 22 March 2021 Commencing in January 2021 the MCA will begin issuing full certificates with a five-year validity. The certificates will be issued in the new format, as shown in Annex A, and will be a resumption in the issuance of physical certification by the MCA. All NOE and Revalidation applications need to be sent to the MCA by email. You need to have your Digital SRB available in your profile before you can apply, so that you can download it and include it in your email to the MCA (please do not copy PYA in the emails). If all your required sea time (or part of it) is in a physical SRB, please contact us for a digitally stamped copy of your physical SRB so you can send that by email instead of by post. If you are applying for your first NOE (first MCA CoC), then you need to send your original documents to the MCA by post as well (except the D-SRB of course) to the address that follows. If your application requires the submission of a Training Record Book (TRB), the original physical TRB will need to be submitted to the MCA. Supporting documents must be attached to the ‘application email’ directly, or within a ‘.zip file’. They are unable to accept ‘.rar extensions’ or links to file-sharing services such as OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox. Your application may be selected for screening. In that case, you will be contacted requesting the submission of original documentation. Physical documents should be sent to: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency Seafarer Services (Bay 2/11) Spring Place105 Commercial Road Southampton SO15 1EG UK View now: MIN 655 More news PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership. Read more Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024 This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey. Read more PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. Read more

​ The PYA Supports the Launch of Yacht Crew Help To All news 26 November 2020 The PYA has noticed an increase of mental health issues amongst yacht crew over the last few years and has been campaigning to raise awareness and actively support industry organisations providing assistance to crew. We have particularly been working closely with the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) who has - up until this point - provided a 24/7 helpline to all seafarers worldwide. The PYA, along with ISWAN and a number of other supporting organisations, has recognised the need for a specialised helpline tailored to supporting yacht crew with the unique challenges they face. We are proud to announce that we have actively contributed to the development of the new 'Yacht Crew Help' helpline, providing guidance and consultation to ISWAN and will continue to do so in the future by active contribution to the services offered. Professional yacht crew anywhere in the world will now be able to access 24-hour support via Yacht Crew Help . Why is there a need for a specialised helpline? [Press release from ISWAN 24/11/2020] Despite the many benefits of working on board a superyacht, the challenges of working away from home for long periods and living in close quarters with colleagues can become overwhelming. In a 2018 survey of superyacht crew, ISWAN found that 82% of superyacht crew experienced low crew morale sometimes, often or always, and 55% of female respondents found accessing mental health care to be an occasional or regular challenge. Prompted by these findings, ISWAN set up a steering group of representatives from across the superyacht industry, including the PYA, who collaborated to develop Yacht Crew Help, - a free, confidential, multilingual helpline for professional yacht crew. Whatever problem someone is facing, wherever they are in the world, Yacht Crew Help will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to provide guidance and support. The helpline is run by ISWAN, a charity which promotes the welfare of seafarers working in all sectors of the maritime industry. The helpline officers are trained in counselling skills, suicide risk assessment and providing emotional support to crew all over the world, and the team is connected with a wide range of organisations to help yacht crew find further support. ISWAN’s Executive Director Roger Harris said: ‘Although the superyacht industry can be glamorous, the demands on crew are very high and living in your workplace away from loved ones can be tough. With Yacht Crew Help, we want to make sure that men and women working on superyachts can easily access the support available to them worldwide whenever they need it – free of charge, day or night. We are incredibly grateful to all of our partners for helping us develop a service tailored to professional yacht crew and their specific needs.’ Captain Brendan O’Shannassy, President of the ISS Captain’s Committee and one of the key members of the Yacht Crew Help steering group, said: ‘The most valuable component of the superyacht industry are the crews. Yacht Crew Help will be key to educating and supporting yacht crew as they strive to deliver the excellence demanded by the industry. ISWAN are a highly credible non-commercial entity to provide this support without crew having any concern of commercial compromise when raising personal concerns.’ How to get help Crew members, whether they are currently on board or ashore, can currently contact Yacht Crew Help via three different contact methods: Telephone: +44 (0)20 3713 7273 (a call back can be requested via the Yacht Crew Help website) E-mail: help@yachtcrewhelp.org Live Chat: via www.yachtcrewhelp.org A range of information, guidance and resources on issues affecting yacht crew is available on the Yacht Crew Help website at www.yachtcrewhelp.org , including mental health and wellbeing, bullying and harassment, sexual assault, substance misuse and employment concerns. Supporting organisations Yacht Crew Help would not be possible without the support and guidance of a number of key companies and organisations: Bond Technology Management & Consultancy (Primary partner); Y.CO (Official yachting partner); Burgess (Gold sponsor); MYBA (Gold sponsor); LYBRA (Gold sponsor); The Professional Yachting Association; Nautilus International; wilsonhalligan; MHG Insurance Brokers; United Advisers Marine; Yotspot; AYSS; Yachting Matters; Superyacht Charities; Impact Crew; International Superyacht Society; and Superyacht Services Guide. More news PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership. Read more Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024 This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey. Read more PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. Read more

​ Join the war on single-use plastic with Clear Ocean Pact To All news 6 October 2019 Following the mailing we sent out earlier this year which called for our members to join the war against the use of single-use plastic, the not-for-profit organisation, Clear Ocean Pact, has received a positive increase in the number of yachts and crew who signed up. Included, was a well-known 107m yacht which the organisation is hoping will have a strong influence on other vessels joining the PACT. The organisation’s Founder, Richard Orme, is hoping to get 1,000 superyachts signed up to the initiative by November 2020. With 52 yachts and >575 crew already committed, the organisation still has some work to do before reaching their goal. By joining the PACT, yachts and crew commit themselves to a set of 5 common goals to help reduce the industry’s dependence on single-use plastics, to share information about viable alternatives to single-use plastic and to inspire other industries to take on the same approach. Do you want to join the fight against single-use plastic? Follow these simple steps: Visit their website clearoceanpact.org Sign-up to the PACT Inspire other yachts and crew to do the same Contribute to Clear Ocean Pact’s Blog If you’d like to contribute to raising awareness against single-use plastic by becoming a guest writer on their blog, please contact Richard Orme at richard@clearoceanpact.org . More news PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership. Read more Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024 This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey. Read more PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show. Read more