30th March 2024

We would like to highlight the following insights :

The complexities surrounding the social protection of yacht crew members were discussed by our panelists during the session on « The Insurance, the Laws, and the Crew Welfare. »

Our insurance and law experts highlighted the disparities in protections provided to the crew members compared to their land-based counterparts.

The crew member national social security scheme do not extend to seafarers unless it aligns with the yacht’s registered ownership country and with the vessel’s flag state.

This alignment is rarely the case for the superyachts which continue to privilege offshore flags and registrations with no welfare benefits at all.

That being said, the commercial yachts are hopefully governed by the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (the ‘MLC’) which set compulsory minimum standards for yachts crew access to medical care, repatriation and 16 weeks sick leave. This very basic legal welfare pack requirement is met by the Yacht Protection & Indemnity (P&I) cover.

Yet, the limitations of P&I Insurance are apparent as it offers no cover for off-duty incidents or times spent off the yacht.

Hopefully, a majority of yacht owners are increasingly securing comprehensive crew health insurance plan which could includes life and disability insurance (with coverage extending up to 104 weeks) and, in some cases, pension or savings plans for their crew members with France as their base of operation/living.

Our few specialized insurance providers are striving to maintain competitive premiums while supplying the necessary routine medical, dental, visual benefits. They also now offer confidential counseling through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which serve to support the mental well-being of crew members. These programs are useful for crew members to overcome the challenges of living in close quarters but also to those crew members victims of onboard bullying, discrimination.

However, when mental health deteriorates, discussion hotlines or internal conversation may be insufficient remedies. Interventions often necessitate granting the affected crew member a break onshore and demand proactive measures by the captain and management team to prevent reoccurrences.

With impending legislation in the UK and the EU poised to hold employers accountable for harassment onboard, yacht owners are urged to take preemptive measures against discriminatory practices. Sea Employement Agreements (SEA) must evolve to sensitize all crew members to the importance of maintaining a respectful environment at sea.

For inquiries or further information on the panel’s insights and implications for yacht crew welfare, please reach out to

Vincent Huens de Brouwer, COVERSHIP MONACO, vhuens@covership.com, +3377816098

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