The Captains role is not something you can just decide to do, asides from the obvious Passage planning, Safety and Seamanship, that is something that only comes with years of experience. The captain also has the accountability for not only the yacht and the crew but also for the owner and guests safety and well being while onboard and also ashore whilst on the crew list.

A huge role and responsibility of ‘the master’ is recruitment and crew training, if the crew are not incentivized and inspired the programs crew longevity will suffer.

He or she is the first point of contact for the owner or Management Company and often the shipyard and charter agent too. Usually with the expectation of weekly and monthly updates ensuring the vessel is surveyed insured and maintained to an acceptable level, this is governed by his or her annual, seasonal and monthly schedule, programs and budget.

It is the master’s responsibility to ensure both flag state and port state control rules and regulations are maintained at all times.

Finally but not least is the role of ‘The manager’ this can greatly variety from boat to boat with different styles but the captains key role is to liaise with department heads on prioritizing and budgeting. At the end of the day even with delegation; Accounting and accountability for all vessel related costs and safety ends with the captain.

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Duties

• Passage planning, Safety and Seamanship
• Accountability for yacht, crew and guests
• Recruitment and crew training program for longevity
• First port of call for owner and Management Company
• Ensuring vessel is surveyed insured and maintained
• Manage annual, seasonal and monthly schedule, programs and budget
• Liaise with department heads on prioritising and budgeting
• Accounting and accountability for all vessel related costs

The first mate is the Captain’s First point of contact and right hand. This is a huge role onboard and requires commitment and professionalism after all the first mate is second in command!

As #2 it is key to assist and complete understanding of all passage planning decisions and avoidance and action plans in the case of the captain being unable to fulfill his role.

Day to day the First mate is expected to manage departments depending on delegated responsibility and be the ‘go to’ person to help resolve problems,

Usually the Mate would manage contractors and deck crew and make sure the crew are conducting themselves in a role that would not reflect badly on the yacht or owner.

During yard period and standby the role would be to assist and follow all yard and survey schedules and make sure standards are maintained this includes Maintaining ISM, Mini ISM not least all safety drills.

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The huge role of the engineer greatly varies vessel to vessel, but as a general rule they are expected to manage and maintain all systems onboard including but not limited to: Plumbing, Hydraulics, Electrical, Electronic, PLC and Mechanical engineering. To be able to do this a solid understanding of all areas and vessel lay out is key.

Managing and maintaining inventories and spares for routine and preventative maintenance and having regular stock checks is vital to being able to maintain the yachts systems safely and efficiently.

Having the understanding to a level and being able to repair systems given facilities and means is obvious but also knowing the limitations of the means available is also an important role,

The Engineer is expected to report defects that effect day to day and safety to the captain so if action to the program is required the captain is made aware at the earliest opportunity

There is also a substantial amount of admin involved in Managing budgets and maintenance programs often by means of a ‘Maintenance Management Program’.

Engineers that are looking to improve the functionality, safety and efficiency of the vessel and not just do the minimum are a sort after commodity!

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The role of the bosun can vary more noticeably between motor and sail but as a rule the bosun would be expected to help Manage deck crew with the first mate but report separately to the first mate.

To be able to work efficiently and safely the bosun must be able to manage and maintain inventories and spares for routine and preventative maintenance on tenders and water toys. In the case of sailing yachts the role also encompasses maintaining the standing and running rigging maintenance, rotation and service of all deck equipment and hardware.

While reporting to the engineer and Mate they may also be required to assist deck crew with day to day running of deck and guest care and service including tender driver.

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The role of deckhand is quite often overlooked, to be a good deck hand you must be willing to work as part of the team and have a really good eye for detail, Usually reporting to the Mate and or Bosun the deckhand is charged with all general deck care and service including but not limited to:

Wash downs, Polish bright work and stainless steal, teak clean and care, tender maintenance and cleaning.

It’s important to be able to work with others as you will be expected to work alongside other deckhands and day workers.

When Guests are onboard a large role is ensuring safety, care and service to all guests, this can be from moving around the deck to watersports instruction and tender/launch driving.

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A good chef can make or break a cruise. Time, system management and preparation are all really important parts of the chef’s day-to-day life.

A large portion of the role of the chef is Maintenance and cleanliness schedule of all Galley equipment and area, this helps reliability but more importantly raises hygiene levels.

Preparation comes on many levels. On receiving preferences sheets and making a suitable menu plan for guests and charters and always allowing for allergies and preferences and not least; local available resources and following that by being able to Manage provisions and vitling for all guest allowing for Contingencies and schedule and guest list changes. A meal may go from a quite dinner for 2 to a full service dinner with 20 guests. Flexibility is key!

On top of this, the chef is required to manage provisions and vitling for all crew food allowing for variety, preference and allergies all the time maintaining and liaise the relationship with the stewardess on changes and timings of service.

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The overall responsibility of interior maintenance and standards falls largely on the stewardess; this can be from varnish care, marble or gold leaf care to upkeep of silver ware. In many cases there will be more than one stewardess and roles can be divided but as a rule all should have a basic understanding of the role and responsibilities that each member of the team has.

As a sole or chief stew you will manage and have accountability for interior annual/monthly and weekly budgets, this will tie in with inventories for service consumables and service F&B stock

One of the most important and valued assets a good steward/stewardess can have is the ability to liaise with the charters and guests giving seamless communication to the galley; the relationship between the chef and the stewardess is vital to not only service but also a healthy environment onboard.

The role includes but is not limited to: Chamber/cabin cleaning standards ‘beds and heads’, laundry and contract laundry turnarounds, Service and silver service. Flower arranging, decorations and themes.

As the interior team expands the ability to manage other interior crew becomes more vital.

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