How safe is the Yachting Industry? Well, every job has its risks and Yachting Industry is not an exception to that. In fact, we would say that the yachting industry holds more dangers than your average office job.Â
How Safe is the Yachting Industry?
To understand this question, we should list the dangers of the Yachting Industry to provide you with a general idea of safety. However, we also must state that the occurrences of these are really rare and the Yachting Industry is really safe to work for. As long as the yacht crew follows the safety guidelines, the crew will be safe. The purpose of this article is purely informational. We do not want to discourage people from experiencing once-in-a-lifetime adventures the yachting industry offers.
Individualistic Dangers
a. Accidents
No no, we are not talking about the accidents like the Titanic one but the basic accidents like slipping and falling and injuring yourself or breaking your bones. Relatively speaking, these injuries/accidents are the most basic ones and they may hold a small risk. However, with safe practice and awareness of your surroundings, you can definitely eliminate this risk.
b. Fire Hazards
Places like engine rooms or the kitchen are primary locations for a fire hazards. Apart from that, not following general safety instructions may also contribute to the risk. There are many types of fires that may damage the vessel and its inhabitants too.
This is where your STCW training comes in handy. Always remember that prevention is better than cure. Remember your training amidst such emergencies and you should be okay.
c. Medical Emergencies
And while we are considering emergencies like a heart attack or seizures, we want to focus on something else at this point. 2020 has not been a kind year to us all due to pandemics and while it’s really rare, it is definitely a possibility of covid or other diseases breaking out onboard. In these situations, make sure you follow your ship’s safety instructions, work as a team and either defeat it or keep it under control.
Ship-related Hazards
a. Damage to the Ship (Holes in the hull etc.)
While a superyacht is made to withstand the tides and rough situations on the sea, it is not an invincible vessel. Minor damages like corrosion and holes in the hull may cause emergencies on the ship.
Of course, while this situation is extremely rare, it is always better to be prepared than be in denial. You are specially trained for this in STCW. Many vessels also provide on-board training for new team members, letting them know the protocols to follow during these situations.
b. Pirates
Although really rare these days, piracy on the sea is still a critical issue that many countries continue to address. A yacht with rich guests onboard can easily attract pirates to your ship. This is exactly why having a functional and effective surveillance system on a yacht is extremely important.
This Forbes article explains it very well: Superyacht Security: The 10 Best Ways To Protect From Pirates And Paparazzi (forbes.com)
Guest-related risks
Now, this is the part barely anyone talks about. As you are well aware, the yachting industry is made for elite people. And what do all the elites—people having a rich background have? An extremely high profile.
High profile individuals, especially celebrities and big names in industries always have paparazzi on their tail. They are hard to avoid, and may device extreme plots to get a few pictures (maybe without consent as well) of them. Now, as a deckhand/stewardess, you do not have to deal with such direct security but we recommend not to team up with such people if somebody approaches you with such intention.
The Importance of STCW and the Conclusion
This article right is the reason why the STCW Training is so important. STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. It makes you aware of hazards and dangers of the sea and makes you proficient in dealing with them.
Related: STCW Certificate in South Africa | Do I need one?
In conclusion, the yachting industry is really safe to work for. And as with every other industry, the yachting industry has its own hazards too. If you are someone who is looking forward to the thrills of working on one, we would definitely encourage you to go. There’s a brand new world awaiting you out there and you should not miss the opportunity.. That being said, make sure you make yourself well aware of security and threats.
Remember, it’s always best to be aware and well-informed than ignorant. If you have any questions, please feel free to connect with us!