Yacht crew positions and contracts

Somewhat unsurprisingly, the operation and implementation of tasks aboard a superyacht is a full-time job for more than just one crew member. The superyacht industry, therefore, offers a wide range of roles on board, catering to individuals with a range of skill sets and career preferences.

The number and range of roles on a typical superyacht will vary depending on its size and set up. For those who know which role to pursue, the next step will be enrolling with crew agents and crew training schools, while for those who don’t know where they may fit on board, keep reading.

We cover the most common positions, with a list of typical responsibilities and an expected salary range for permanent crew working on yachts between 35 and 100 metres LOA (data taken from YPI Crew's Yachting Salaries tool).

Yacht job roles, responsibilities and crew salaries

Superyacht captain or skipper

Arguably the most well-known and respected job role aboard any yacht – large or small – is that of the captain. The captain has two primary objectives on board: The safe manning and operation of the vessel, and the care of guests and crew.

The main responsibilities of a superyacht captain may include:

• Safe navigation and operation of the yacht
• Budget management and accounting
• Decision-making and crew management
• Managing the upkeep of the yacht
• Taking control of yacht repairs and refit projects
• Assuming the role of ‘host’ and entertaining when necessary

Depending on the size of the vessel and experience of the applicant, a captain can expect an average salary of anywhere between €6,000 and €20,000 per month. You can find out more about a captain's salary in our dedicated article.

Deck

First officer/chief mate

All superyachts generally have a first officer or chief mate, who is essentially ready to take over the yacht should anything happen to the captain. On larger yachts, there may also be a second officer.

Job roles therefore vary depending on the set up of the department. The first officer is second in command to the captain and manages all the deck crew, including the second officer, bosuns and deckhands. He or she is also responsible for:

• Ensuring the safety of the yacht and individuals on board
• Overseeing all deck operations and management
• Supervision and preparation of water toys
• The management of administrative and safety procedures on board
• Bridge watches and the navigational passage planning of the yacht

A second officer may hold navigational responsibilities, keeping charts and publications up to date. The job may also involve monitoring radio equipment and bridge watches, and he or she may be appointed as the designated safety or medical officer.

A first officer or chief mate may expect a salary of between €4,000 and €8,900 per month, depending on the level of responsibility. In comparison, a second officer may start on a salary of €2,500 per month and a sole mate on a monthly salary of €3,500.

Bosun 

The bosun, sometimes known as the leading hand or senior deckhand, is likely to be an experienced deckhand, working his/her way up the career ladder. The bosun is responsible for maintaining the exterior of the yacht and is in charge of supervising the deckhands. The bosun is responsible for:

• Organising deck operations, including storage, the use and maintenance of tenders, toys and equipment, deck maintenance and supplies
• Bridge watches and overseeing security
• Overseeing the passerelle, and the safety of guests as they embark and disembark
• Outstanding guest service and an eye for detail

In return, a bosun may expect a salary of between €3,000 and €4,500 per month.

Deckhand

A deckhand is just one of the entry-level positions available on board a superyacht. Primarily, he/she will work with the other deckhands to maintain the exterior of the yacht, keeping it in pristine condition. Deckhand responsibilities include:

• Cleaning, painting and varnishing
• Polishing and finishing
• Carpentry
• Line handling
• Driving and supervising guests using tenders and toys
• Guest service and cleaning

As an entry-level position with few additional qualifications required, a deckhand may expect a salary of between €1,250 and €2,500 per month.

Engineering

First/chief engineer

A first or chief engineer is in charge of the engineering department on board, and is responsible for its safe and efficient operation. Reporting directly to the captain, he/she will manage the vessel’s engineers, electrical technical officers (ETO’s) and electricians, as well as:

• The day-to-day management of mechanical and electrical operations aboard
• Team management and supervision
• The coordination of operations with shore-side engineers
• The trouble-shooting and repair of all systems and equipment on board
• The sourcing and purchasing of parts
• The docking, undocking and anchoring of the yacht

First or chief officers can generally expect an average salary of between €4,700 and €9,900 per month. A second engineer may expect a salary starting at around €1,500 per month.

Interior

Purser

A purser is a senior crew member who manages several areas of the superyacht, ranging from crew recruitment and financial matters, to interior management and provisioning, depending on the crew on board. Pursers are typically found on larger yachts, as the role can otherwise contain a large amount of crossover with the responsibilities of the chief stewardess or housekeeper.

Where required, the purser becomes the chief of finances and keeping the accounts and financial affairs of the yacht in order.

Responsibilities of a purser include:

• The management of all financial matters on board including accounting and bookkeeping
• HR, payroll and general crew management such as keeping crew certifications up to date
• Management of the yacht’s interior including inventory tasks
• Provisioning the vessel with food, beverages, cleaning supplies, uniforms etc.
• Working with heads of departments to ensure smooth, efficient management of financial matters and purchasing and provisioning logistics
• Coordinating any contracts and deliveries to the superyacht
• Planning events and arranging owner and guest trips, as well as managing pre-arrival tasks such as transport options and venue checks
• General administration

Chief steward or stewardess

A chief steward/ess is likely to have progressed to this role through learned experience aboard a superyacht. They are in charge of the operation of the yacht interior and its staff, reporting directly to the captain. Attention-to-detail and outstanding yet discreet guest service are vital to this role.

The main responsibilities of a chief steward/ess include:

• Food service – including silver service
• Drink service and bar tending
• The oversight of accommodation cleaning and preparation
• Cabin preparation
• Flower arranging
• Obtaining local currency
• Arranging trips, transport and events for the owner and guests
• General yacht operations

As a chief steward/ess, you could expect to earn a salary of between €3,500 and €7,000 per month, while more junior stewardesses could take home anything from €1,400 to €4,000 per month, depending on the scope of their responsibilities on board.

Galley

Yacht chef

The food is one of the many things a guest will always remember about his/her time aboard a superyacht. As expected, the chef plays an incredibly important role on board, sourcing, purchasing, transporting, preparing and presenting food on the table.

Depending on the size of the yacht, a chef may work alone, or may manage a sous chef and/or crew cook or galley hand, while at all times keeping the galley in pristine condition. He/she must be able to prepare a wide range of dishes, from the basic to the exotic, sometimes with scarce supplies. The main responsibilities of a yacht chef include:

• Devising interesting and delicious menus, meeting the demands of dietary requirements and the event in hand
• Sourcing and purchasing food items and ingredients
• Arranging the transportation of food stuffs to the yacht
• The preparation, cooking and presentation of meals for guests (and sometimes crew)
• Cleaning and maintaining the galley

The expected salary of a yacht chef can range from €4,500 to upwards of €9,000 per month, depending on the size of yacht , the experience of the individual and amount of supporting galley staff working aboard. A second/sous chef of a mid-size yacht (60m) might expect a median salary of around €3,650 per month.

Yacht crew contracts

Typically, yacht crew contracts will be offered on a seasonal basis (three to six months), a temporary basis (changeable periods), or a permanent basis of one year or more. Day work is also available – great for those seeking daily payment and on-board experience.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) sets out the interests of yacht crew welfare, providing minimum requirements for crew accommodation, welfare and employment. It demands that all crewmembers working aboard commercial charter yachts should be hired on the basis of a Seafarers Employment Agreement (SEA).

A crew contract should set out, in more detail, the name and contact details of the yacht’s owning company or agency, plus a description of the vessel. It should also include details of:

• Salary – How much you will be paid, and how
• Probationary period
• Annual leave or time off
• Summary of dismissal
• Repatriation
• Venue of jurisdiction
• Drug policy – always zero tolerance at sea
• Special issues – confidentiality, tips and kickbacks
• Personal hygiene expectations
• Official MCA-approved contracts and agreements

A sample crew contract, crew confidentiality agreement and job descriptions can be found in this document from MGH Publishing.

In the unfortunate event that you are fired or dismissed, the MLC demands that a document (or reference) should be provided. This must not contain any statement to the quality of work given or salary taken. It must contain sufficient information to facilitate finding further work, or satisfy sea-service requirements for skills upgrading or promotion. An aggrieved owner cannot withhold it.

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Picked your role? Read on to find out where and when to find a superyacht job, or find yacht crew agents on Yachtingpages.com