October 2022 - CrewPass

CrewPass is attending the METS Trade next week.

Conrad Empson, will be representing CrewPass at the METSTRADE 2022.

Meet US

Are you looking for a company to handle the crew vetting process, provide comprehensive criminal background checks and offer an innovative solution for daily operations onboard? CrewPass’ superyacht crew background checks and crew management software give you the advantage you need in the yachting industry. We provide safety for those who value the best onboard.

Contact us to arrange a meetup:
info@crewpass.co.uk
02381800917

Women in yachting speak out.

TW: This blog post mentions acts of domestic abuse and violence.

After the release of last week’s blog post, “Yachtie’s string of violent crimes get brought to light”, the post started to gain attraction, and numerous people have since spoken out with their own personal stories working onboard. This subject is such a sensitive one, but these stories must be heard to drive change. The rise of cases of sexual assault and predatory behaviour towards women in yachting is becoming rapidly publicised within the industry. The rise of cases publicised is most likely linked to the fact that there are more available platforms for people to speak freely. Nevertheless, this isn’t to say that there has been a recent spike in cases per se.

Understanding the work conditions within the in yachting industry.

The yachting industry’s hush-hush approach is notoriously well-known and has been expected for so many years. Thus, everyone within the industry has had a high level of expectation in regards to keeping everything, including work conditions, top secret and completely classified. However, the new age of social media, especially Facebook, with uncountable pages and groups where people can educate, inform and warn others about the going on in the industry, has caused a shift in this pattern for the better. Therefore, in a short time frame, social media has significantly impacted the ability of female individuals to fight against social injustice within the world of super yachting.

Gender discrimination in the yachting industry.

Unfortunately, it is not unheard of in the general workforce to be discriminated against because of gender. Statistics in the US show that about “42% of US women have faced discrimination in the workplace on the basis of gender.” (Teamstage.io, 2022). Plus, a whopping “…8.2 million UK employees report they’ve been discriminated against on the grounds of their gender.” However, discrimination towards women seems far more prolific in the yachting industry than in many other industries, with 77% of women experiencing problems onboard (Yachtcrewhelp.org). Crew members only have to read through Yachtie-based Facebook pages/groups to see the detailed unethical behaviour in the industry. The superyacht industry’s blase attitude towards discriminatory behaviour has been the catalyst for the self-destruction of its glorified reputation.

A female crew member's story:

“I joined a boat on a freelance basis and ended up getting involved with the mate. I was under the impression from something he told me that he had undergone a background check during the hiring process. It was either a lie or the background check was not thorough.”

“I found out later he had multiple arrests and felonies (including assault/battery) and a family member had a restraining order against him. If the yacht had conducted a proper background check, he never would have been hired and I would’ve been spared an abusive relationship.”

“That’s why I’m so glad CrewPass exists now. Hopefully, we can make the yachting industry safer and protect crew from circumstances like this.”

Another crew story:

“We had a deckhand who was wanted for attempted manslaughter and had a range of historical violent incidents. He held a knife to my throat in the crew mess one night on charter, witnessed by Chief Officer…he was fired…I went on vacation…he was on the dock (rehired again) in St Marteen when I flew in.”

“He then did the same again to another stew onboard. He would try to break into my cabin at night. Repeated requests to Captain ignored. I left the yacht soon after. Next yacht, he dragged his stew gf across a dancefloor in front of all her crew (all from a well-known yacht) and smashed up all the pot plants on a rampage one night close to the IYCA. The various management companies ignored repeated requests by crew to stop hiring him on yachts as crew were in danger.”

“We had an audit onboard, and I had to say something as my interior was pretty scared. It was followed up, but still, nothing happened. CrewPass would have been essential as it turns out his checkered history in the UK with an attempted manslaughter charge, amongst other things, would have popped up. Last I heard, he’s still in yachting.”

“Just to give more concern about my story, the managing agent I walked into to place a formal complaint was *a well-known managing agency* in Fort Lauderdale. I had a crew member on a well known 68m, who was ex RN and went to hit me in my office. I laid several complaints of the abuse received by myself, soa manager who refused to be in a room with him on her own and 2nd stew was the same. Constant babysitting crew with fear. *A well-known managing agency* did nothing. I was in their office for another reason, and they threatened to blacklist me if I did anything further or if I quit or any of the HOD’s quit.”

“The crew member has a historical background of abuse of his wife and was also a boxer (none of us knew). He had some sort of AVO in UK. Chief Engineer on a very well known 74m verbally abused myself and several crew and hit deck crew on a night out. He hit another crew member on another night out. Constant assault that reached my office – Captain wasn’t interested and did nothing when reported on several occasions on behalf of the crew affected. Turns out the CE has a historical background of violence – another ex-RN UK. He was discharged from RN due to violent behaviour. Complaint to Captain after interior felt unsafe – nothing was done. The new Captain (my former CO on one of these yachts above) has tried months to hire the ex-Chief from the 68m. I went straight to the owner. It puts his reputation, crew, and family at risk. Mates club over a legal implication – disaster…”

“It is so common I dealt with the dangerous conditions right throughout my yachting career until 2 years ago. I feel what you do is so essential as the problem of violent behaviour is still swept under the carpet, and proper checks are avoided to get crew onboard with urgency – huge complacency.”

Resources for women in yachting

This blog post tells an important message, brings to light unknown stories and brings awareness to a broader audience. We only want to educate our audience, and if you have been affected by anything mentioned in this post, we have added a few resources that may be able to benefit you.

Association of Women in Yachting – “…the Association of Women in Yachting provides a platform for professional women in the yachting industry to network and surround themselves with like-minded industry leaders.”

Yacht Crew Help – “Yacht Crew Help is a free and confidential multilingual helpline for professional yacht crew available all day, every day.”

SeaCode – “SeaCode is an anonymous platform for seafarers and those working in the Merchant Navy, superyacht and cruise industries to raise awareness about some of the problems they face at work. SeaCode offers a safe space for victims and survivors of abuse (including sexual abuse), bullying, harassment (including sexual harassment) and discrimination – along with any other challenges faced at work – to share their stories, learn about workers’ rights, and provide a community of mutual support.”

Yachtie’s string of violent crimes gets brought to light

It goes without saying that ensuring all crew on board is safe is just as important as keeping the owners, clients and guests safe. Yacht crew are put in small living conditions with complete strangers, not truly knowing who the person they are sleeping next to is. Employers who do not pre-screen crew members before they step on board unknowingly put people in potentially risky/dangerous positions. This week’s blog is about a series of unfortunate events that could’ve been prevented if employers had conducted a simple background check. For the sake of the individuals involved, we have kept their identities anonymous.

In 2019, a man in the yachting industry from the US pleaded guilty to harassment charges for sharing private pictures of his former partner. The 28-year-old was convicted and pleaded guilty to two class 1 misdemeanours in the United States. The judge ordered the man to serve concurrent 60-day jail sentences for the sustained harassment of an ex-romantic partner, with credit for 24 days served. The man was also made to serve three years of probation and undergo mandatory mental health and domestic violence evaluations and treatment.

According to sources, in 2022, the American man’s probation is finally over; however, his wicked ways continue. A woman came forward, stating that the same man violently abused her friend, and the abuse got so out of hand that he broke her friend’s ribs alongside other dreadful things. The poor woman went to the police, but at present, the only thing that was accomplished was setting out a restraining order on the man.

An anonymous source told us that she happened to interview the man, unaware of his violent past, but was very put off by his rude and confrontational attitude. Setting aside the man’s unpleasantness, the agent attempted to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, and asked to see his documentation and references. However, the man provided a pathological excuse regarding why he couldn’t provide any governmental documentation and could only provide the agent with one mediocre work reference. By this point, the agent’s growing discomfort, distaste for the man’s character and too many red flags caused her to dismiss the man entirely. Little did she know that this man was the infamous abuser and that placing him would not only dampen the agency’s reputation but potentially cause more scary situations for the crew onboard.

Many crew agencies and vessels have been made aware of the man’s real identity. Meanwhile, many industry professionals and agents even stated that they had blacklisted this man from being placed on board. The case is still ongoing, and new disturbing stories/experiences with the man seem to be coming to light.

However, since this story has been made common knowledge, we have seen an increased demand for pre-screening yacht crew. Many agree that the most recent situation onboard could’ve been avoided if background checks were an industry standard worldwide. Ensuring that all crew have undergone comprehensive criminal record checks, global sanction checks, ID verification and even certificate authenticity checks, many threats and dangers onboard could’ve dodged. A straightforward background check can protect crew members from serious threats and save agents from potentially damaging their own reputations. If you wish to learn more about our services please click this link: https://www.crewpass.co.uk/home-page-background-checks/

Are you one step ahead? The Caribbean season has approached…

If you are anything like me, you probably like to be ahead of the game and ensure you are one step ahead of the rest. If you want to join the yachting season in the Caribbean, it’s usually the time people start to head down there. However, getting work is often quite daunting, especially for green crew. Staying focused and on track shouldn’t be a continuous tug-of-war contest with the self. The yacht recruitment process doesn’t have to be difficult though there are things you can do to make your life a little easier and to improve your chances of being picked as a candidate.

Why is it important to be one step ahead?

The one-step-ahead mentality is the key to success. Not planning and “going with the flow” makes your life more challenging in the long run. In the yachting industry, being determined, focused and savvy can separate you from the competition.

“Planning ahead and staying focused is not only an asset for myself but also for my team.”

–Amy LeBold, head of people at AdRoll Group, a growth platform company helping businesses compete online to grow revenue, with over 500 employees in six offices around the world.

How can CrewPass help you be one step ahead?

At CrewPass, we aim to allow crew to be ahead of the competition by providing them with a service that gives them a competitive advantage. Although background checks seem to not be an industry standard, since we have launched, industry professionals have seen the need for checks. Background checks guarantee better security onboard, allowing agencies to put forward fully vetted crew to employers whilst enabling Captains to feel confident about who they are placing on board. This safety feature allows everyone, including guests, crew and owners, to be more at ease knowing that the entire crew list is fully vetted.

Once a crew member has signed up with CrewPass and passed our checks (which include criminal record checks, global sanctions and ID verification), they will be awarded the CrewPass Approved accreditation. Adding another accreditation to your CV, which is globally recognised and supported by leading yachting recruiters, gives crew the edge over other candidates. If an employer wishes to have all crew member’s checked, CrewPass Approved crew can hand their accreditation over and be instantly placed onboard. No more waiting for checks conducted by every employer, as you have an accreditation to prove you are already one step ahead.

“Very easy background check! No hassle with DBS accounts etc, they handle it all for you. Support is very helpful and the features they are adding looking fantastic. Has already helped me with a recent job, saved the vessel time by not having to background check me themselves. 100% recommend and so worth doing for any crew member.”

– Austin Eszcori, CrewPass Approved crew member

What other steps can you make to ensure you are ahead of the game?

1) Make sure you are fully trained.

ENG1 and STCW are fundamental courses in the industry! There have been a few cases where crew have forgotten to train in medical. You must complete these courses if you wish to join the yachting industry. However, once these courses are out of the way, there are other courses such as PWC, PBL2, WSET, and more that are great to further your education and are more specialised for your department.

2) Increase your fitness

Working long hours with few breaks can sound very daunting, especially when crew are on their feet all day working in high-temperature countries and with intense humidity. Try and prepare yourself by training cardio and weightlifting, as this is a great way to impress your captain. Crew can maintain fitness by working out onboard, with many superyachts having gyms onboard.

3) Sign up with our partner agencies and validate your CrewPass accreditation.

CrewPass has partnered with many leading crew agencies to help crew make the most of their accreditation. Agencies such as YPI Crew, Wilsonhalligan, Bespoke Crew, Viking Crew and more have integrated CrewPass’ software into their signup process, allowing crew to validate their Approved status for all employers to see that they have passed a full background check.

4) Update your CV

Keeping your CV up to date is crucial! Make sure you have all of your relevant yachting qualifications displayed on your CV alongside relevant skills and experience. If you do not have any previous yachting experience, you can still put work experience with transferrable skills such as customer service-based jobs. Plus, if you are CrewPass Approved, you can add your unique CV badge to let all employers know that you are fully background checked and safe to place on board.

5) Get yourself out there!

Sign up for day work to build up your CV and gain experience onboard. Dockwalk and hand out your CV, this helps with getting your face seen and getting your name out there. Sign up with online job boards such as Yacrew, Dockendo, SSR, or register on crew agencies. Many crew join Facebook groups/pages to discover new roles, network with other crew and to learn more about the industry.

Summary

The Caribbean yachting season runs from late November to May, so there is still time for crew to prepare. Autumn is the time of change in the industry, and many yachts will make their way over to the Caribbean. Therefore, September and October are the peak months to find a job for the Caribbean season. Many crew rely on online agencies to help them get work on yachts that are “crossing the pond”. Travelling all the way over to the Caribbean without having a job lined up is a massive risk. If crew are relying on agencies to get a job abroad, be one step ahead of the recruitment process and kick start your CrewPass background checks in time for the recruitment process!

We offer a one-off deal that gives crew 25% off the CrewPass accreditation/background checks when they apply the code ENDOFSEASON25 at check out. Or use this link: to automatically add the discount at checkout.

Macmillan Coffee Morning at CrewPass

Last Friday, CrewPass hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning event at our Southampton, UK office. Employees submitted their baked goods for a bake-off. Business units in the surrounding area were invited to try baked goods with the option to donate to the cause. All our donations for the fundraising event have been passed to Macmillan Cancer Support. We were able to raise just under £300 through our bake sale/coffee morning event.

About Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support is a non-profit organisation that supports people living with cancer. They provide a variety of services which aim to inform and support cancer patients, survivors and their friends and family in tough times. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. They have a Macmillan Support Line, which you can call if you need advice or just simply need someone to speak to: 0800 808 00 00.

The Coffee Morning Event

Macmillan Cancer Support encourages donations through its coffee morning fundraising events. The official date of Coffee Morning is September 30th, but it can be held on any date. Macmillan’s Coffee Morning is actually the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, and in 2021, they raised over £11 million. The first Macmillan Coffee Morning happened way back in 1990 and since has raised over £290 million for the cause.

How your money can help...

£71 could help run Macmillan’s Online Community forum for over 3 hours. Typically, that would give nearly 198 people affected by cancer both emotional and practical support.

£100 could pay for a person affected by cancer to attend a health and wellbeing event, providing them with skills to improve the management of these areas in their lives.

£350 could pay for a Macmillan grant that helps a family affected by cancer take a holiday and enjoy precious time together.

£606 could pay for a Macmillan Support Worker for a week, helping patients, family members and carers manage the social and practical problems of living with cancer.

£1135 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for a week, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical and emotional support.

How to donate:

There are multiple ways a person can donate to the cause. We aimed to raise a minimum of £200 from our local bake-off, but we would like to raise as much as possible for the cause. You can scan the QR code or click the link below:

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog!

CrewPass

Monthly Archives: October 2022