Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1376560
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 MAY 2021 10 BOATING Pauline Micallef, CEO of MaritimeMT EVER wondered what it would be like to board a luxury superyacht? Ever dreamt of working on such yachts? Did you know that the Superyacht Academy at MaritimeMT can prepare you to become a crew member and start making use of your sea legs? Yachting is a cool way to earn boat- loads of money and travel the world, but nothing comes easy. So, what does it really take to become a "yachtie"? 1. The right training and a good com- mand of English Like any other job, without the ba- sic entry level skills, you cannot land a starting job in yachting. The Standards of Training, Certification and Watch- keeping (STCW) Basic Safety Training is a 6-day course that can be easily at- tained at MaritimeMT. This course in- cludes four certificates combined in one - Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elemen- tary First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. You also need to be certified by your doctor as healthy and able to work. A yacht has 4 main departments fall- ing under the responsibility of the Captain, and each department has a spectrum of positions which require a number of prerequisites to be able to be considered for employment. Crew posi- tions and number of crew at each posi- tion vary by the size of the yacht, but in general the departments would be split as depicted in the table. Although each position has its own qualifications, a "green" crew starts from the bottom and works their way up through experience and training. MaritimeMT facilitates and provides training for the different levels and posi- tions. Length and duration of the cours- es vary, however as a European Union national you can benefit from financial aid (such as the Malta Enterprise Get Qualified and Jobsplus schemes) that will make this career route more af- fordable for a "green" crew. English is the official universal mari- time language, so having a good com- mand of English will give you a head start in this career. However, even those who don't, can undergo a Maritime English course that can help you get in line with the basic requirements. 2. The right personality If a 9 to 5 office job bores you and you don't have an issue with sharing your personal space, then yachting might be the answer. However, you need to be a jack of all trades, hardworking, intui- tive, spontaneous, and able to work un- der pressure in order to satisfy demand- ing bosses. The service given on these luxury superyachts is very high-rank- ing, so you cannot have a crew mem- ber with anger management issues. It is important that you understand your personality to be able to assess whether you fit the yachting life or not. In this industry one must not fear change, because change is the only con- stant. This is because this career calls for changing jobs, so don't expect to be re- turning to the same job and yacht after the end of the season. You must always be on the lookout for new opportunities. 3. The right attitude A highly opinionated individual might come across as cocky, which can cause issues. It is not that your opinion doesn't matter, but ultimately, it's the guests' and owner's opinion that matters most. One must be able to accept cultural di- versities and cannot be scrupulous. Moreover, if you enjoy partying and the good social life, the yachties are known to work hard to party hard! So, this might be your calling. 4. The right age Start young and start today. Don't wait too long to start your maritime training. Although ageism might not necessarily be a stumbling block, the industry is dominated by young driven individuals. Let's face it, at 40 years old you don't necessarily want to be sharing a cabin with a 20 year old, because the priori- ties at both ages will be different. Con- versely, working your way to becoming a captain means a number of years' ex- perience and in this position the more sea time the better. 5. The right resume and networks While a steward on land barely scrapes the minimum wage, a junior steward on a yacht earns three times as much. A simple google search can easily show you the demand for crew and wages within the yachting industry. Hence, since the salaries are so com- petitive, your resume must make a very good first impression to crew agencies and the respective employers. More- over, since it's a growing industry, it is imperative to keep up to date with where the crowd is heading. Superyacht shows in some of the largest marinas are a must visit. Ultimately, yachting is not for every- one however, one can understand that entering this industry has its perks. So, if you're interested in changing your career or if COVID made you do it, MaritimeMT Superyacht Academy can be your passport to cruising the Medi- terranean and Caribbean seas this sum- mer. Take a leap and become a yachtie Title: Take a leap and become a yachtie by Pauline Micallef, CEO of MaritimeMT Ever wondered what it would be like to board a luxury superyacht? Ever dreamt of working on such yachts? Did you know that the Superyacht Academy at MaritimeMT can prepare you to become a crew member and start making use of your sea legs? Yachting is a cool way to earn boatloads of money and travel the world, but nothing comes easy. So, what does it really take to become a "yachtie"? 1. The right training and a good command of English Like any other job, without the basic entry level skills, you cannot land a starting job in yachting. The Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Basic Safety Training is a 6-day course that can be easily attained at MaritimeMT. This course includes four certificates combined in one - Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. You also need to be certified by your doctor as healthy and able to work. A yacht has 4 main departments falling under the responsibility of the Captain, and each department has a spectrum of positions which require a number of prerequisites to be able to be considered for employment. Crew positions and number of crew at each position vary by the size of the yacht, but in general the departments would be split as follows: Although each position has its own qualifications, a "green" crew starts from the bottom and works their way up through experience and training. MaritimeMT facilitates and provides training for the different levels and positions. Captain Deck Chief Officer Bosun Deckhand Engineering Chief Engineer 2nd Engineer Interior Chief Stewardess Stewardess Galley Head Chef Crew Chef