A job in yachting!

One of the most frequent news items on the media is that about the ever increasing fuel prices and quite often loud voices also speak of the awkward negative economic indicators. Yet, in spite of the adverse conditions of the world economy, the number of millionaires continues to grow and the new scenario of uncertainty has increased the desire to buy and live ultra-luxury experiences.

One particular segment that is growing by leaps and bounds is the luxury yachting market where the demand for super yachts in only six years, from 1999 to 2004, increased by 80 per cent, largely in terms of motor vessels. It also emerges that motor super yachts represent 88 per cent of the world market as against 12 per cent sailing super yachts. Forty per cent of the world yacht market comes from vessels that can be classified within the range of "luxury yachts", a market today valued about €6 billion with vessel numbers predicted to rise by about 10 per cent annually.

These statistics definitely give rousing motivation to those having the yachting industry among their top priorities. With our characteristics of islanders and historical background, we Maltese are natural seafarers and while we look upon Malta as a potential hub for super yachts in the Mediterranean, we cannot overlook the great potential the luxury yachts industry offers in the employment of specialised personnel.

Going through the employment opportunities one finds vacancies ranging from that of captain, chief steward, stewardess, deckhand, mate, executive chef, first engineer, helicopter pilot and more. Definitely, the first advantageous significance of a yacht crew job is that of travelling the world and getting paid for it!

While browsing on the subject I learned of a set-up named Flagship Training Limited, a joint venture between two leading UK defence and government services organisations - BAE Systems and VT Group - formed in 1996 when an innovative partnering agreement was signed with the Ministry of Defence to deliver support services to reduce expenditure and generate income for the Royal Navy.

Today, Flagship has evolved into a total training solutions provider with broadened capabilities to include training technology solutions, training support services, facilities management and construction services that are delivered to a broad range of customers all over the world.

Only a few months ago, Flagship and the Royal Navy launched The Flagship Super Yacht Academy designed to deliver the highest quality yacht crew where the mission is patent-created for crew that are serious about their careers and yachts that are serious about their crew.

Earlier this month, Flagship announced the appointment of Sir Tim McClement as managing director of their new Super Yacht Academy. Prior to joining Flagship, Sir Tim held a number of senior posts in the Royal Navy, his last appointment before retiring being Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

I spoke to Sir Tim and fortunately, irrespective of his demanding schedule, including the launch of the academy's project last week at the Monaco Boat Show, I managed to get his knowledgeable outlook on the subject.

What is the reality of the luxury yachts industry worldwide today, I asked.

He answered: "The year 2007 has seen a rapid increase in orders for super yachts. In 2006, 688 yachts measuring more than 80 feet were built across the world; over 250 of these will be launched this year. However, little thought has been given towards how to identify and place a fully-trained crew to enable these super yachts to go to sea and be operated safely. This year, over 3,000 new crew members will be required to join the sector and this number will rise steadily for at least the next five years and very probably beyond".

In such a scenario how does crew employment feature and what are the opportunities?

"These new crew members will be hard to find, because they will require a unique blend of skills: From marine engineering to haute cuisine chef, from health and safety, first aid, navigation and fire fighting to interpersonal skills such as teamwork and exceptional customer service. They must be willing to work hard (and play hard!). And the rewards are considerable with crew enjoying attractive tax-free salaries, worldwide travel, free comfortable accommodation and complimentary health and dentist cover.

"To date, training for crew in Europe has been severely limited - hence the launch of the Flagship Super Yacht Academy at the Monaco Yacht Show. We will improve the quality and standards of training and, uniquely, offer whole crew training to deliver a strong team building element to the training package," Sir Tim said.

In these circumstances does Malta's higher education system give our youngsters adequate studies to attain international-acknowledged qualifications for possible employment in these rather still untapped opportunities?

The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology is possibly the platform designed for such opportunities.

John Sciberras, director of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Mcast, explains that "the institute provides the highest level of technical skills that will cater for the current and future needs of industry and are not limited to any particular area in today's technology. The luxury yachts industry is undoubtedly a very interesting area and offers new opportunities to our students. The courses run at the institute lead to various specialisation employment opportunities within the engineering and industrial sectors and have the underpinning knowledge and technologies used in luxury yachts. Of course, the institute is flexible enough to train students in a specific area if the need arises, but in this case one would need specialised industrial support from the yacht industry itself".

Appealing and rewarding opportunities in the luxury yachts industry also exist in what could be classified as the catering/hospitality wing of the industry where locally, for years now, the Institute of Tourism Studies has been preparing professional personnel to guarantee an excellent standard of service within the industry.

Joseph Bonello, the ITS's head of administration, points out that "the ITS offers programmes of studies in various areas of hospitality and tourism ranging from management to accommodation operations, to food preparation and production as well as food and beverage service among other areas. There were many ITS graduates who have found employment as chefs on board luxury yachts or else on cruise liners as well as graduates who are working as receptionists or housekeeping operators on board cruise liners. We do not hold specific courses for persons who wish to work on board luxury yachts, cruise liners or other vessels, however the courses we offer enable graduates to become employable for various positions within this specific area".

But how truly enticing is a job on a super yacht? Unfortunately, I never had such a break in my life, however, I will be elaborating more on the experiences of two young men whose livelihood depends on super yachts.

Tomorrow: My Job In Yachting.