Yacht operations questions, answered

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 of 500 GT and over to implement a documented Safety Management System. Private yachts not engaged in trade are outside SOLAS and 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. Vessels ordinarily engaged in commercial activities must comply, and those of 500 GT and over on international voyages must be certified; PSC inspectors specifically check MLC records.

Will a flag state or class surveyor reject my PMS because the software isn't certified?

Usually no. Surveyors normally care whether maintenance records are complete, consistent, and auditable, not whether the software itself is certified. The exception is where your management company or class policy specifically requires type-approved software.

What is APA in yacht charter and how is it calculated?

APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a pre-paid fund from charter clients, set as a percentage 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 cover crew salaries, fuel, marina berth, insurance, maintenance, and provisioning. Totals vary widely with location, crew size, and charter schedule.

How much does yacht insurance cost?

Yacht insurance is priced as a percentage of the vessel's agreed value, and the rate depends on use, navigation area, and the captain's experience. Charter and commercial use costs more than private pleasure use.

What STCW certificates does a yacht captain need?

A yacht captain needs at minimum a master's certificate of competency for the yacht's tonnage, 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.

What is a Planned Maintenance System (PMS) for yachts?

A Planned Maintenance System (PMS) is a structured schedule of preventive maintenance tasks for all vessel systems, required under ISM Code for commercial vessels. It documents what maintenance is due, when, and tracks completion history to prove compliance during PSC inspections.

Does yacht management software need DNV type approval?

No. A general maintenance, expense, or compliance record application does not normally require type approval. Type approval is required for specific navigation, recording, alarm, and monitoring equipment categories under SOLAS carriage requirements or class rules.

What is a Lloyd's Register Software Conformity Assessment and does it apply to yacht software?

A Software Conformity Assessment is a class society review of a software product's architecture, testing process, documentation, and development practices. It is not a mandatory requirement for an ISM audit.

Does ISO 27001 mean my yacht data is safe?

ISO 27001 certifies a vendor's information security management process, not the exact security features of a specific product. You should still ask about encryption, access control, data residency, backups, tenant isolation, and audit logs.