Career Guidance

These guides have been compiled by Döhle Yacht Crew to provide an introduction for those who are contemplating working in the remarkable and prestigious world of superyachts. It will also be of assistance to those who are already in the industry who are considering moving up the career ladder.

As the title states, these are guides, they are not intended to be definitive or comprehensive documents.

In the Guide to Careers on Superyachts we cover:

Information on the superyacht industry and how it has grown – How to get into the industry and how to apply – Basic qualifications – CV writing and preparing for the interview – The “Career Tree” – The Large Yacht Code, MLC, and SEA – Tax and NI – The “Seasons” – Useful Links

For detailed information on each type of job available on superyachts, follow the links to Deck Positions, Interior Positions and Engineering Positions.

• Deck Positions (84kb PDF)
• Interior Positions (81kb PDF)
• Engineering Positions (80kb PDF)

For employment on a commercially registered superyacht, the minimum requirement for all crew is basic safety training. Deck and Engineer Officers must meet the certification requirements in accordance with the vessel’s characteristics.

STCW

The basic safety training is known as Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). This safety training was developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The full course comprises four modules/certificates:

• Personal Survival Techniques
• Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention
• Elementary First Aid
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibility

All four modules must be completed. They can be taken as individual courses or all four together, which takes some 5-6 days.

Some privately operated yachts may accept applicants who have not yet completed STCW training, however there is also a growing trend even within this category of vessel to employ crew who have their STCW. Therefore, we strongly recommend that newcomers to yachting complete the basic training before applying for any positions to enhance your prospects for employment.

The STCW Convention and Code was amended in 2010 contained new security training requirements which came into force in 2014. This training is required by all seafarers employed on board vessels to which the ISPS Code applies. The relevant course is the Proficiency in Security Awareness and is normally a one day course.

Medical Certificates

Depending on which country the yacht is registered under you may need a valid medical certificate (i.e. a seafarer certificate). Some employers will also expect this, regardless of which flag the yacht flies, as it may be a requirement of the vessel’s insurance policies.

We strongly recommend that any newcomers to this industry undertake a medical examination with a view of obtaining a valid medical certificate such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) approved Medical, known as ENG1. The list of MCA approved medical practitioners can be obtained from the MCA website. Or contact us for advice.

The ENG1 must be renewed on a regular basis.

Other Qualifications

If you are serious about a career in the industry, you may wish to look into other courses prior to applying for a job aboard.

Courses that would be useful include: Royal Yachting Association (RYA) qualifications such as Day Skipper, Power Boat Level 2 and VHF/SRC Radio Operators Certificate or IYT Tender Driving. The MCA approved Yacht Rating Course is acceptable.

Pre-experience in yachting, even if it is only for leisure pursuits, will be an asset as it will show that you have some of the basic understanding of the sea – as will any experience in the leisure industry.

Experience in other fields which have relevance would be useful, such as engineering and the service industry.

Knowledge of other languages other than your own will be an asset.

As you progress up the career ladder each new role will require new skills and qualifications.

Your curriculum vitae (CV) is often the first impression a prospective employer will have about you. The decision to shortlist you, or indeed to interview you, for a job on a superyacht will be taken on the strength of how your CV is presented, the content and quality of writing.
A CV is your selling document, a personal presentation of your experience and objectives.
An employer will probably have dozens of CVs for any one job so yours must stand out. It must be concise, clear and communicate to your potential employer why you will be an asset to the vessel/company.
As well as being concise your CV should not be lengthy, even if you have had many posts. Ideally it should not take up more than two pages of A4.

What Your CV Should Contain:

Personal Details:

Name
Date of birth
Nationality
Visas held (e.g., B1/B2)
Marital status
Smoker/non-smoker
Shore address
Landline phone number (If any)
Mobile phone number
Languages spoken and degree of fluency Recent head and shoulders photograph Health (Certificates)
Tattoos/body art if any

Qualifications and Education:
Detail all relevant qualifications.

Experience and Employment History:
List all positions held with the most recent posting first. This should be in the following format;

Dates
Position Held
Name of Yacht
Size
Number of crew and passengers (Optional)
Commercial or Private
Responsibilities: (Brief outline of your role aboard, two lines maximum)

Also detail any relevant shore-based roles you have had.

Additional Skills:
Detail any skills/qualifications that you have which may be relevant – computer skills etc.

Hobbies:
List hobbies, leisure activities and interests – especially if they are related to the position you seek – e.g., water sports.

References:

Name
Occupation/Yacht Name Address (If possible) Phone Number (Land) Phone Number (Mobile) Email

Always check the spelling and grammar and have at least one other person read through your CV – and use a spell checker.

Photograph
Your photograph should a head and shoulders shot in colour. Dress smartly, if possible, wear a uniform or plain shirt, neat hair. Have the photograph taken in a neutral background, no one else in shot.

Yacht interviews can be very stressful, however be aware that your first interview could be with a recruitment agency. Take this opportunity to ask any questions you have before speaking with the potential employer, as they will already know the client’s requirements.

When given the opportunity for an interview with a Captain find out as much as you can about him/her and the yacht. This information could also be given by the recruitment agency or by researching via the web.

Top Tips:

First impressions are vital. So, it is important to not only look good but also comport yourself with confidence even if over video call.

Take some time prior to the interview to make some notes and write down some questions you would like to ask. Think how you can differentiate yourself from other likely candidates.

Dress smartly, sensible shoes, no flip flops or dark glasses. Mobile phone switched off. 

Smile and be yourself.

Body language is important – sit upright, keep control of your hands as fiddling with a pen or touching your hair can be distracting. Keep good eye contact.

Show that you are an individual but also remember that you are going to be part of a team and prepared to work closely with others and take direction.

Listen to the questions. If you do not understand any, ask for clarification.  Do not hesitate over your answers. Answer directly.

Show that you are interested in the position by asking questions about the yacht, your duties, the crew, the itinerary.

Be honest about your ambitions, abilities and skills.

If asked why you left your previous role be honest, it is a business with close contacts between all involved in the industry.

Stay positive.

It could also be useful to make sure you understand the industry’s terminology. The Döhle Yachts Glossary of Superyacht Terms and Abbreviations is a good starting point. This can be found below:

 The Maritime Labour Convention came into effect on 20th August 2013. This has a profound effect on all commercial shipping, including commercial superyachts.

The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention 2006 consolidates and updates over 65 international labour standards related to seafarers adopted over the last eighty years, in order to secure the right of all seafarers to decent employment. It has been designed to become a global instrument known as the “fourth pillar” of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, along with three other key maritime Conventions of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), namely safety at sea (SOLAS), training, certification and watchkeeping standards (STCW) and environmental protection (MARPOL).

It has two primary purposes:

• To bring the system of protection contained in existing labour standards closer to the workers concerned, in a form consistent with the rapidly developing globalised sector.
• To improve the applicability of the system, so that shipowners (including superyacht owners) and governments interested in providing decent conditions of work do not have to bear an unequal burden in ensuring protection.

The Convention is intended to achieve increased compliance by operators and owners of ships and to strengthen enforcement of standards through mechanisms which operate at all levels.

For example, it contains provisions for:

• Crew accommodation
• Complaint procedures available to seafarers
• Shipowners’ and shipmasters’ supervision of conditions on their ships
• Flag States’ jurisdiction and control over their ships
• Port State inspections of foreign ships

By requiring ratifying Members not only to implement the Convention in the national laws but also to document their implementation, the Convention also enhances the effectiveness of the supervision carried out at the international level, especially by the competent bodies of the ILO.

Döhle Yachts has produced a comprehensive guide to the MLC and how it affects superyachts, which can be downloaded below.

Guide to the MLC (282kb PDF)

Full MLC Convention (including the Amendments of 2014, 2016, and 2018) (736kb PDF)

The MLC establishes minimum requirements of working conditions for seafarers – in effect, a “bill of rights”.

Specifically in terms of crew employment, the MLC requires each flag state to have a clearly written and legally enforceable contract for each crewmember. Every seafarer working on a commercial yacht must have a Flag State approved Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA).

The MLC Regulations state:

• Every seafarer has the right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards.
• Every seafarer has a right to fair terms of employment.
• Every seafarer has a right to decent working and living conditions on board ship.
• Every seafarer has a right to health protection, medical care, welfare measures and other forms of social protection.
• The terms and conditions for employment of a seafarer shall be set out or referred to in a clear written legally enforceable agreement and shall be consistent with the standards set out in the Code.

The SEA is a contractual agreement between the individual crewmember and the vessel’s owner, representative or owning company. In most cases the owner has little to do with the yacht’s administration; as many yachts are owned by a company and run by a management firm, we will refer from now just to the “employer” to cover all three entities.

It must be in a language understood by the crewmember. Where such a language is not English, an English translation must be maintained on board the vessel. The SEA must be signed by the crewmember and the vessel’s employer and a copy kept by the crewmember and a copy held on board the vessel. (The importance of a copy being held on board was emphasised within two weeks of the MLC coming into force when a vessel was detained in Denmark as, on inspection it was found that none of the crew had a SEA.)

Döhle Yachts has compiled a guide to the SEA which can be downloaded below.

Guide to the Seafarer Employment Agreement (710kb PDF)

Model Format for a Seafarer Employment Agreement (201kb PDF)

MGN 477 (M) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Seafarers’ Employment Agreements (503kb PDF)

Döhle Yachts has compiled a comprehensive glossary of nautical terms, abbreviations and acronyms. They are terms used in the yachting industry generally and with particular reference to those used in the superyacht sector.

There are separate sections for forecasting and meteorological terms, the names of winds and signal flags.

This glossary is intended as an introductory guide for those seeking to enter the industry and as reference for those already employed within the industry.

This glossary can be downloaded below.

Glossary of Nautical Terms (406kb PDF)