| Q: | Why should I choose Yacht Engineering as a career? |
| A: | There is a shortage of trained and licensed Yacht Engineers, especially in the Yacht 4 and Yacht 3 grades.
A holder of a Yacht 4 License can command a monthly salary of around $10,000.
There are over 120 yachts, each over 200 feet in length, in the design or building stage and this number is increasing every year.
There is a great need for professionally trained and licensed Yacht Engineers for the present and the future. |
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| Q: | Do I need a license to seek a career on a yacht? |
| A: | All personnel working on a yacht are required to have completed a STCW 95 recognised Basic Safety, Sea Survival and First Aid Certificate Courses.
The Captain, Mates, and Engineers, on a charter vessel or a larger private yacht, will require the appropriate License recognized by the Flag State of the vessel. A maritime license is not necessarily required for the junior level positions, i.e. Stewardess, Deckhand, Cook, etc.
However, a number of crew members will require you to hold a Proficiency in Survival Craft and a Rescue Boat Certificate. Larger Yachts insist that senior personnel also hold an Advanced Sea Survival Certificate. |
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| Q: | What kind of experience do I need as an engineer ? |
| A: | Traditionally marine engineers came through four year engineering apprenticeships of various kinds. Nowadays, basic engineering knowledge can get you started as a Yacht Engineer.
Practical hands on experience repairing any variety of mechanical items such as jetskis, waverunners, air conditioners, refrigerators, diesel engines, generators, electrical wiring, plumbing, navigational equipment, etc. is very useful but not essential.
The Engineer is responsible for keeping the yacht in good mechanical order so that the vessel is safe to go to sea with guests and crew on board, and able to provide a first class hotel environment for the owners and their guests. Most vessels will require the Engineer to have some formal training, certification and licensure depending on the size and flag of the yacht. |
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| Q: | Where do most Yachts recruit from? |
| A: | Most yachts travel to destinations where the weather is warm and pleasant. Therefore, they tend to hire most of their crew when they are in Florida, between cruising seasons. However, there are always positions open in the summer in the Northeast USA, and in the Mediterranean. In the winter, many vessels hire crew who are in the Caribbean. A personal interview is usually very important to the Captain, as the crew not only work together, they must live together.
Numerous crewing agencies advertise available positions online.
If you get in touch please tell Joe Hodgson, the owner, that Chief Instructor Gordon sent you. |
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