Frequently Asked Questions

Career in Yachting (4)

How To Start A Career In The Yachting Industry?

The specific qualifications required for the yachting industry will depend on whether you are looking for a career in the deck, interior or engineering department.

The common certificate required in all fields is the Basic STCW 95, which is comprised of four modules certificate. Unfortunately, Superyacht recruitment agencies are not able to employ crew members that do not possess this basic certificate. Commercial yachts (500 ft. long or more) also require all crew members to have done a Security Awareness Training for which a certificate is delivered.

Once you are working on board the yacht, in whichever capacity, your captain and or Head of department will be able to advise and further guide you on certificates available to improve your career.

Where Can I Get All The Required Certificates?

All mariners who apply for an original US Merchant Mariner’s Document (MMD) or currently hold an “entry level” MMD without an endorsed qualified rating (ordinary seaman/wiper/steward), comply with STCW by completing the four Basic Training (BT) courses, which are: Basic Firefighting; Personal Survival Techniques; Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities; and Elementary First Aid. Upon completion, the MMD holder applies for an STCW certificate from the Coast Guard.

For mariners and crew members applying for an original license, or presently hold a Coast Guard license for vessels of not more than 200 GRT, Near Coastal, may also comply with STCW by simply completing Basic Training (BT), and then applying for the STCW certificate from the Coast Guard.

What Are The Costs For The Basic Certificates?

The cost for the full five-day STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) modular course, consisting of the four independent modules, ranges between US$900–$1,000 if taken in the United States. In Europe and Australia, the average cost of STCW Basic Training courses varies anywhere between US$900–$1,880.

These figures will also vary depending on the school attended. Most institutions offer each separate STCW module à la carte, so you can take them one at a time if you’d like, rather than the five (or in some cases six) straight days in a row.

What Certificates And Documents Do I Need To Work On Board A Yacht?

All crewmembers working aboard commercial vessels (all charter yachts) are required to have what is called an STCW Basic Safety Training International Certificate of Competency, referred to generally as basic safety training.

STCW 95 stands for: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, it was ratified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1995. Generally speaking, within the industry, the basic entry level certification is abbreviated to Basic STCW 95 and comprises five modules:

  • Personal Survival
  • Fire Fighting
  • First Aid & CPR
  • Personal Safety & Social Responsibility
  • Proficiency in Security Awareness (PSA)

The course will take five days to complete and is available in all major yachting centers. All modules must be completed to obtain the license.

By obtaining this basic certificate, entry level crew will achieve two things: You will you be abler and knowledgeable candidate and you will also confirm to potential employers that you are serious about this industry.

Freedom Yacht Website (5)

Do I Have To Pay When I Use An Agency To Find A Job?

Both public and private employment agencies help place workers and crew members. For job seekers, an employment agency can be the ticket to getting that full-time job. However, most private employment agencies do charge fees for their services. Usually, the hiring company pays the agency, but sometimes job seekers pay recruiters to find opportunities for them. If you're a job seeker who's paying for employment services, use a certified recruiter who will keep your best interests in mind. A reliable agency can't guarantee that you get a job, but it'll work to help you find the position that's best for you.

Who Is Freedom Yacht Crew?

We are a MLC certified crew placement Agency committed to matching highly professional crew with highly professional yachting programs.

How To Register At Www.Freedomyachtmanagement.Com?

First, thank you for your interest in becoming a member of our team! You can register at Freedom Yacht Management by filling out our Crew Sign Up form available at www.freedomyachtmanagement.com/crew-sign-up, or by visiting our website at www.freedomyachtmanagement.com and navigating to “Crew” and “Crew Sign Up”.

Where Can I Find The Latest Jobs On The FYM Crew Website?

You will find the latest jobs available at Freedom Yacht Management at https://freedomyachtmanagement.com/crew-jobs/, or by visiting our website at www.freedomyachtmanagement.com and navigating to “Crew” , then “Crew Jobs”. Please make sure you fill out the job application to your best capabilities.

Full Application Process (2)

What My Application Should Look Like?

First, it is important that you have your Curriculum Vitae set up. You need to keep it short and concise (max. 3 pages).

Your CV should include the following:

Photograph: This needs to be a professional, passport style photograph. Please don’t use a self made picture that looks not professional!
Personal details: Name, Nationality/Citizenship, Date of birth, Relationship status, Visas (i.e. for non American applicants a B1/B2 visa is one usually needed), phone number, email address, current location and Qualification/s (i.e. S.T.C.W 95, Yachting tickets/certificates required for the position applying), Health (i.e. good health, non smoker).
Career objective: Outlining what position you are looking for and why (2-3 sentences).
Qualifications/Education: Listing any general certifications and those apply specifically to yachting, engineering or hospitality (depending on position seeking).
Work History: In a chronological order. List the recent one at the beginning.
References
To complete your application you need to upload copies of the following documents:

Valid passport and relevant travel visas eg/ B1/B2, Schengen visa
Valid medical certificate in English – eg/ ENG 1
Valid training and qualification documents in accordance with STCW regulations and in accordance to your position on board – ie/ all your STCW licenses and certificates
DECK AND ENGINEERING: Copies of all licenses & certificates

What Should I Wear For My Yacht Interviews?

Yes, we can understand it is hard to choose what to wear for an interview but that doesn’t mean you can go there raggle-taggle. Be a little bit prepared and follow our dress code. Then you are already one step closer to get your dream job!

What to wear:

Dressed like you can start on board a yacht the next hour that means polo shirt and short/skirt (not too short). Check out a uniform shop if you are not sure what this looks like.
Closed shoes
Hair tight back
Light makeup
What not to wear:

Jeans
Flip flops or sandals
Wrinkled, stained, or damaged clothing
Sunglasses on your head or around your neckline
Hats
Too much perfume or cologne (if any at all)
Earrings on men
Keep jewelry to a minimum (nothing too flashy or bulky)
Cover tattoos (even though they are artwork to be admired)
Your cell phone

Information (3)

What Can I Expect To Earn A Month?
The average starting salary for a deckhand or stewardess is approximately 2,200Euros per month. Please consider your salary is always depending on boat, size of the boat, position and experience.
What Is The Average Cost Of Accommodation At The Yachting Hubs?

Just before the season is starting it is better to get situated in the yachting hubs for possible interviews. Instead of living alone you can try to stay in a crew house to make friends and to get in touch with other yachties.

Accommodation in Antibes, France:

The Crew House
The Crew Grapevine
Debbie’s Crew House
The Glamorgan
Ammas Crew House
Accommodation in Palma, Spain:

Hostel Brondo
The Boat House
Hostal Terminus
Hostal Ritzi
Hostal Apuntadores
The Crew House Palma
The Town House Palma
Hostel Terramar
Hotel Horizonte
Hostal La Mimosa
Hostel Corona
Hostal San Telmo
Accommodation in Fort Lauderdale, USA:

The Neptune Group
Mary’s Crew House
Smart Move
Hands Om Healing House
Depending on the time of the year and type of accommodation expect to pay around 50 Euros to 75 dollars per night. Check out the accommodation websites to get more information.

How Do I Relax And Keep Fit While Working Onboard A Yacht With A Busy Schedule And Guests Onboard?
We can suggest contacting Kim Walt www.mindandbody.com who can offer advice on nutrition and fitness and even lend an ear if things don’t go your way all the time. She is an ex-yachtie!

Maritime Labour Convention (2)

What Is The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006?
What is MLC 2006? The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 provides comprehensive working rights and protection for all seafarers including you! The Convention aims to achieve decent working standards for seafarers while ensuring shipowners are fair to all employees. If you want to know more about it check out the following link: http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/maritime-labour-convention/lang–en/index.htm.
What Will Change For Me As A Crew Member With The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006?

There are some changes regarding the MLC, 2006. One important change is that every seafarer needs to have a SEA (Seafarer Employment Agreement Employment Contract). Including you! With the SEA your working conditions are clearly defined.

In accordance to the new regulations our application process has slightly changed to ensure that we respect all the requirements of MLC, 2006. But dont worry! You only have to upload the following certificates for you application. Like this IYC Crew can be sure that you fulfill all the requirements to work in a specific position on board a yacht.

Valid passport and relevant travel visas eg/ B1/B2, Schengen visa
Valid medical certificate in English eg/ ENG 1
Valid training and qualification documents in accordance with STCW regulations and in accordance to your position on board ie/ all your STCW licenses and certificates DECK AND ENGINEERING: Copies of all licenses & certificates
You have to make sure that you sign a SEA (Seafarer Employment Agreement) before you start to work. Please do not work without a SEA!

ATTENTION!!!

If you work on a ship which is registered with a flag State which has not ratified the MLC, you may not enjoy the same level of protection provided for by the MLC. Instead the flag State may only be subject to a selected patchwork of conventions (or none at all) which the MLC replaces and updates and protection for you would not therefore be guaranteed. Some of the protections provided by the MLC may be provided under other international conventions, if the flag state of the vessel is a signatory to those conventions, mainly STCW convention and ISM Code.

Our Contact Detail (2)

How Can My Family Reach Me If I’m At Sea?

When your family cannot reach you in case of emergency through telephone or email on board they can contact Freedom Yacht Crew. Your family can contact Josh Cunningham (Director of Freedom Yacht Crew).

Telephone (954) 732-8916 Email info@fycrew.com

We will call you; we will contact you by email and also forward possible emails from your family to you by email. If we are not able to reach you on this way we might have to contact the captain of the yacht.

This procedure should only be used in case of emergency.

It is your responsibility to make sure that your family has your up-to-date contact details to reach you at any time on board. Freedom Yacht Crew is not responsible in case of failure to reach you. This service is free of charge and is a courtesy to our clients and yacht crew.

Where Do I Find Freedom Yacht Crew And How Do I Contact Them?

Freedom Yacht Crew is located at Lauderdale Marine Center.

Freedom Yacht Crew
2019 Sw 20th Street Suite J236
Ft Lauderdale
Florida 33315
Tel: (954) 732-8916
Fax: (954) 533-4880
Email: info@fycrew.com

Contact Us

Freedom Yacht Management
801 Seabreeze Blvd
Ft Lauderdale
Florida 33316
Tel:(954) 732-8916
Fax: (954) 533-4880
Email: info@fymanagement.com