YACHTING CAREERS

• What is the Yachting Industry?
• What is a Mega Yacht?
• What kind of Jobs are available?
• Do I need Experience?
• What is the Pay like?
• What type of Training is required?
• What is the difference between a private yacht and a charter yacht?
• When is the best time of the year to look for work?

WHAT IS THE YACHTING INDUSTRY?

The yachting industry is comprised of a variety of jobs and services, including both land based and sea going careers that cater to the more than 10,000 mega yachts currently in the world.

WHAT IS A MEGA YACHT?

A mega yacht is another name for a privately owned yacht that measures over 24 metres long and carries a professional crew. This is the same definition for a superyacht ® although many in the industry consider a mega yacht to be over 60 metres (or over 196 feet)

WHAT KIND OF JOBS ARE AVAILABLE?

A yacht of this size will generally carry a crew of 30 or more. There are several departments on every yacht and it is important to speak to a career counselor to ensure that you are obtaining experience in the correct way to advance your career aspirations. Jobs will be available in the deck, engine, and steward departments. New positions such as Electro technical Officers are also becoming popular as yachts become more and more complex and systems are evolving as quickly as the digital world.

DO I NEED EXPERIENCE?

Entry level positions like junior deckhand and steward/ess , offer new crew a great opportunity to learn about yachting. The job market is competitive and it is important to review all of your previous experience and training. Previous work experience in the hospitality industry in always a plus. People possessing specialty skills such as fishing, engineering, au pair, masseuse, wave runners, or even helicopter pilots are all in demand. In all cases, a willingness to work hard and long as part of a team. As well as an interest in learning and being flexible will increase your chances of finding a position.

WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE?

Salaries vary widely and depend on factors such as experience and yacht size. In the 2019 Dockwalk Salary Survey, it was reported that Average deckhand salaries range from $2500 per month to upwards of $3800 per month. Second Engineers from $3500 to over $9500 per month. Steward /ess salaries also ranged from $2500 monthly to over $7,000 monthly, with the chief stew averaging $2800 to just over $10,000.

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS REQUIRED?

Almost every entry level position onboard will require Basic Training and Security Awareness.

Basic Training is a program of courses that includes Personal Survival Techniques, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, First Aid/ CPR and Basic Firefighting. Most schools, including MPT will offer this over a 5 day period (Monday ® Friday).

You will also need a Basic Security class in order to work onboard. We suggest the one day VPDSD (Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRIVATE YACHT AND A CHARTER YACHT?

A private yacht is used only for a yacht owner and their guests.

A charter yacht is ®rented® / chartered to guests for a negotiated fee. On a charter yacht, crew may receive gratuities for providing excellent service.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO LOOK FOR WORK?

During the winter, most yachts cruise to the islands of the Caribbean, including Antigua, St. Maarten, Grenada, St. Barths, etc. Right after Antigua Race Week in late April, most of the yachts begin to change crew for the upcoming Summer season. Mid - April through mid-June, many vessels return to Ft. Lauderdale for repair, maintenance, and provisioning for the summer season. This is a busy time for crew changes.

During the Summer, most yachts cruise to the Northeast USA, or to the French Riviera. At the end of the Summer when it begins to get cooler, usually September/ October, many of the yachts will finish up their cruising season and go into a repair and maintenance period. This is a very busy time for crew change also, since there are no intended guests on board for several weeks, and since so many people are in the same place for the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show at the end of October.