YACHT MANAGEMENT
to the yacht, from catering to crew, from engine servicing to navigation. He says, “Not only does this drastically simplify the work that owning a superyacht entails but, provides peace of mind that the yacht is being run with professionalism, care and experience. The manager can also act as a sounding board for the owner regarding ideas and future plans for the yacht; the owner has nothing to gain but the manager’s industry experience and knowledge with a specific focus on oversight and coordination.”
Captain A J Anderson heads up the Wright Maritime Group. Based in Fort Lauderdale, the superyacht management company came into being when AJ passed the command of Rassalas to others and took on the role of managing the yacht. Today, some twenty years later, there are forty dedicated multi-national professionals working at The Academy its HQ so named because, while a place of accountable action, it is, they say, also a place of learning to do great things for our clients, their crew and the businesses serving them. Anderson believes that his WMG is different to others involved in professional yacht management because those in operational management still keep and use their Master’s certificates and take command of yachts for periods between 4-10 weeks every year.
“That time in command,” says AJ, “keeps their perspective more closely aligned with the crew, which they feed back to the staff on the floor. There are so many dedicated professionals working in yacht management, that it is less about competition and more about collaboration. One of the joys of this business is to be able to share ideas with other companies doing what we do.”
“The success behind the WMG revolves,” insists AJ, “because an experienced management firm has years of policy and process development across a number of yacht operational profiles. When a licensed and insured firm is involved in the financial and business controls on board, there is naturally a higher level of surety. Having a professional firm with regulatory experience related to crew employment that can serve as employer is a key advantage as well.”
FOR THE CAPTAIN The advantage of yacht management to the yacht’s captain is not dissimilar to those of the owner, in that they need this to be time efficient, so they can deliver the onboard experience that they are employed to do. Efficient ISM / ISPS management systems, financial management systems all save the captain an incredible amount of time compared to where we were some years ago.
Nicholas Dean of Ocean Independence says, “What is perhaps crucial here, is that the captain and management work as a team in the best interests of their owner. This requires respect on both sides and excellent communication. To have a full back up team behind the captain on technical, financial and compliance is crucial to the safe running of the ship.”
Nick Irving concurs saying, “A manager can provide a single point of contact relating to all boat matters, as well as act as a professional mediator between the captain and the client, protecting the captain’s interests while conveying the owner’s requests. The manager can also provide neutral and safe ground for the captain to discuss confidential matters without compromising their relationship with the owner or crew.”
DO CAPTAINS AGREE? Not all superyacht captains agree. One confidentially told us in response to our request for his views on management, “In my experience, management companies fall into three categories: the micro managers, the hands-off variety and the middle of the road, easy to get on with ones. I have worked with all three and I know which type I prefer!”
One company I started off with began by being hands-off, but frightened they would lose their client, allowed the owner’s representatives to push them into becoming micro managers. They wanted paperwork backing every single decision anyone made and then pushed it up the line for approval by the owner’s representatives. This created a very slow system and made it almost impossible to get anything done and frustrated the hell
OCEAN INDEPENDENCE Ocean Independence is a full-service superyacht brokerage company, specialising in yacht sales, charter, new build and management. Founded in 2005, Ocean Independence now has approximately 115 employees, operating from 13 offices around the world, speaking 23 different languages. Delivering a comprehensive range of yacht management services, the dedicated team of technical supervisors and yacht managers offer a unique combination of skills, knowledge and experience to ensure peace of mind, every step of the way. The management services ensure that your yacht is being maintained, operated and administered to the highest possible standards, leaving you free to enjoy time on board with family and friends. If you are considering commissioning a new build construction or refitting an existing yacht, Ocean Independence specialise in providing project management services. They have excellent relationships with the best shipyards, designers and naval architects globally. For more details visit
www.oceanindependence.com
ONBOARD | SPRING 2021 | 105
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