10 answers covering compliance, charter finance, crew management, and operations.
What is the ISM Code and does it apply to my yacht?
The ISM Code (International Safety Management Code) is an IMO standard requiring commercial vessels over 500 GT to implement a documented Safety Management System. Private yachts under 500 GT are typically exempt, but flag states may apply national equivalents.
What happens during a Port State Control inspection?
A PSC inspection is an examination by port country maritime authorities verifying compliance with SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC, and STCW. Inspectors check vessel certificates, safety equipment, crew qualifications, and living conditions. Serious deficiencies result in detention.
What is MLC 2006 and what rights does it give yacht crew?
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006) establishes minimum working and living standards for seafarers including hours of rest limits, minimum leave entitlements, repatriation rights, and medical care. Commercial vessels over 500 GT must comply; PSC inspectors specifically check MLC records.
What is APA in yacht charter and how is it calculated?
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a pre-paid fund from charter clients — typically 30-35% of the base charter fee — covering running expenses including fuel, provisioning, marina fees, and port taxes. Unused APA is returned; overruns are billed additionally.
What are typical monthly operating costs for a charter yacht?
Monthly operating costs for a 25-30m charter motor yacht typically range from €25,000-50,000, covering crew salaries (largest cost at 40-50%), fuel, marina berth, insurance, maintenance, and provisioning.
How much does yacht insurance cost?
Yacht insurance typically costs 1-2% of the vessel's agreed value annually for private pleasure use. Charter and commercial use increases premiums to 1.5-3.5%. A €1M motor yacht used for charters might cost €15,000-35,000 per year.
What STCW certificates does a yacht captain need?
A yacht captain needs at minimum a flag state officer of the watch (OOW) or Yacht Master certificate, STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) comprising firefighting, first aid, personal survival, and personal safety courses, a medical certificate, and GMDSS radio operator certificate for offshore routes.
How do professional yacht captains manage crew documents and certificates?
Professional captains typically manage crew documents through a combination of cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive) for scanned certificates and manual calendar reminders for expiry dates. Dedicated maritime platforms track expiry dates automatically and alert before certificates lapse.