The 5 things crew must do when leaving a yacht job

With thanks to Voyonic Crewing Ltd

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Once you decide that you want to leave your current yacht for a role on another vessel, it’s easy to think ‘job done’ (pardon the pun) the second you’ve handed in your notice. However, there are a number of things to consider prior to your departure to ensure a smooth transition into your new position.

Look, we get it. The last thing you want to do when moving jobs is introduce more things to think about. It can be quite intense. But it’s definitely in your best interests to be proactive and plan ahead. It will save future you from a number of headaches later on.

Thankfully, Yachting Pages is on hand to make it as simple for you as possible. We’ve consulted with Voyonic Crewing Ltd, a leading crew agent and yacht management specialist, to compile a list of essentials that you need to take from your current yacht job to the next one.

What documents do crew members need when changing boat?

There are five fundamentals you need to obtain/do:

1. A completed sea service record form

It’s important to get a record of your sea service, which can be in the form of an entry in the discharge book, or a letter. It’s a requirement of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) that you receive this, and it’s valuable should you wish to gain more certificates in the future - or even make a social security declaration.

2. A copy of the complaints and grievance procedure

This is usually found on the noticeboard in the crew mess. You can just take a photo on your phone for convenience.

Quite often when a complaint is made, the seafarer has sent the information to a contact they have who is unable to help. Using the complaints and grievance procedure will ensure it gets to the correct person as soon as possible so the complaint can be addressed quickly.

3. Confirmation of final salary calculation

It’s significantly easier to do this while you’re still on board in case you have any queries.

4. A copy of your sea contract (with start and end dates)

It’s a requirement to have this with you whilst you’re on board, and you will have been given a copy of it prior to joining the yacht. Hopefully you won’t have lost it as it’s something you’re supposed to keep safe, but if you have then you can ask for another copy.

5. Verify your sea time

It’s definitely better to have it verified sooner rather than later. This can be done via a union or organisation such as the PYA or Nautilus.

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If you ensure you’re on top of these five things as you move from one yacht job to another, the transition should be exciting and stress-free.

Find out how to leave a crew position on good terms, or find more crew tips and advice in Crew Corner.