Coffee Morning

2022 Wrapped Up with CrewPass

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

What were CrewPass’ 2022 milestones? How, as a business, have we expanded and grown?

This year, CrewPass has been inspired by Spotify’s Wrapped 2022, presenting our readers with a fun way to process our official end-of-year round-up. We are celebrating a year of endless ways we have evolved, grown and expanded as a business. Starting today, we are monumentalising a year that has gone by and inviting our followers, customers and other stakeholders to join in on the celebration and witness our success in 2022.

"Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision"

For those that may not already know, CrewPass was launched in December 2021. We started strong with 2 partners, Viking Crew and Bespoke Crew, who supported our mission from the very beginning. Since then, we have advanced our number of partners and diversified within the yachting industry. Our partners include yacht training providers, yachting services, job boards, agencies, and more…

In 2022, we partnered with:

– 11 Crew Agencies

– 2 Job Boards

– 8 Other Professional Yachting Services

(11 Website Integrations)

Although the year is coming to an end, our growth in supporters is not. We have some very big names soon to be announced and some very impressive partnerships that will, without a doubt, shift the yachting industry for the better. Keep an eye out for the end of this month and the beginning of 2023, as more will be revealed shortly.

"Don't find customers for your products, find products for your customers."

We are nothing without our customers, so we would like to take this moment to say a massive thank you to everyone who has signed up with us and contributed to the revolution of background checking in the yachting industry. Our customers are part of the new wave of more secure recruitment processes and help our mission to prove why the lack of vetting crew is a massive safety flaw that needs to be recognised and acted upon.

“Website without visitors is like a ship lost in the horizon.” – Seth Godin

Our website is the centre point for our customers, it’s where we can give further information about our services, where our customers can sign up for our checks, and read our industry-related blogs.

In 2022 we had:

– 80K New Users

"The great thing about social media was how it gave a voice to voiceless people."

When CrewPass launched in 2022, we had no followers on our social media platforms. Since then, we have seen consistent growth in numbers across all platforms. Arguably, our most popular platform is our Instagram page which has over 1.1K followers. We have posted over 300 feed posts and gained a couple of new partnerships through DM’s.

We consistently post business updates, yachting-related news, app demonstrations, customer reviews and yachtie-inspired posts. Furthermore, we are especially well-known for our Instagram reels, where we present followers with a glimpse of CrewPass’ personality and the people behind the company. We know that background checks aren’t the most entertaining topic on Instagram (although it is essential) we do our best to ensure we keep our posts relevant, enjoyable and educational.

In 2022, we achieved:

– 2.4M+ Impressions
–1.4M+ Reach
– 4 Platforms

Without a doubt, CrewPass has packed many things into a short year, and the milestones already accomplished are a testament to our staff. As a team, we have opened up various avenues by attending boat shows, networking events, presentations, demonstrations, talks, podcasts, interviews, giveaways, dinners, Zoom calls and more.

It has been challenging, especially as a startup business. Our biggest struggle was to get people to listen to why our service is essential and to gain the trust of well-established yachting companies and individuals. However, as time advances, we have gained the trust of yachting leaders as well as many crew members, and CrewPass is being spoken about from all corners of the globe.

In 2023, we have some big announcements regarding new partnerships and significant developments that will change the industry (positively) forever. As we expand and grow, we will remain true to our mission, keep our customers at the forefront of our minds, and maintain safety as our top priority.

The CrewPass team wishes you a great festive holiday season and a very happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing everyone in the next one…

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How do background checks improve security for UHNW families onboard?

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

Introduction

Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) is an exclusive group of wealthy individuals located across the globe, each with a net worth above $30m. During the Covid-19 lockdown period, the world saw a rise of self-made millionaires and the super-rich as they benefitted from skyrocketing house prices and thriving stock markets. Although there is a slight decrease in the UHNW population post-Covid, the superyacht industry has financially benefited from the last 2-years. During the height of Covid times, the yachting industry grew in demand as the industry can offer isolation and solitude that many other forms of travel could not compete with. 

UHNW Lifestyle

Outsiders would be surprised to learn that the UHNW population seek “noble purpose” in their lives… People within this tax bracket are often highly educated individuals that embody high levels of emotional intelligence and generosity and expect these attributes to be adopted by their children. Family and friendships are at the top of UHNW’s priorities, and they often value relationships more now than ever.

The population highly values security. As previously mentioned, UHNW individuals cherish their loved ones dearly and wish to guarantee they are protected at all costs. Once again, UHNWs are “embracing the gated community and private club model,” including superyachts filled with “familiar people”.

“The pandemic made private, protected environments such as villas, farms, ranches, islands, jets, and yachts the most favoured spaces, and UHNWs have continued to enjoy them.” – Cision, 2022.

Image sourced from: Denison Yachting

Security on Superyachts

The superyacht industry strives for top security and high customer service above everything else. Onboard the yacht, there are many devices and technology built to protect the guests onboard, including acoustic devices, detection devices, anti-drone protection, cloaking systems, escape rooms, lockdown systems, surveillance and other systems set in place. The question is, why do we let the yacht recruitment process stay stagnant when everything else is advancing towards being secure as possible?

Pre-employment screening is common practice in most industries. Background-checking staff is an excellent way of protecting vulnerable groups onboard with whom crew interact on a one-to-one basis. Simple reference checks are not sufficient to fully comprehend a candidate’s suitability. It is so easy for crew members to embellish their CV and references as the resources tend to be unreliable and taken at face value alone. Furthermore, these checks need to be more extensive regarding the crew member’s life before yachting.

“Comprehensive employment background checks have a wide range of benefits such as reducing workplace violence, increasing applicant quality, reducing the loss of employees due to dishonesty, hiring the right candidate, and avoiding company losses and negative publicity.” –Simpliverfied, 2019.

The solution to safer recruitment

CrewPass was created to specifically benefit the superyacht industry, unlike other more generic background-checking companies. We cater our checks to the yachting industry to provide a more bespoke service to satisfy yacht crew, recruiters and clients.

For Crew– The yachting industry is highly saturated with green crew aspiring to work onboard. When crew leave their training providers, they leave with the same qualifications, little/no work experience on yachts and similar attributes presented on their CVs. It is hard for crew to stand out from the crowd with so much competition, and this is where CrewPass comes in… The “Approved” accreditation is another certificate crew can add to their CV. When crew let employers know they are CrewPass Approved, they notify them that you have passed CrewPass’ comprehensive criminal checks and ID verification, letting them know that they are safe to place onboard. No longer will crew have to undergo a check every time they apply for a job via an agency as the CrewPass Approved accreditation is valid for 2-years. Crew can even validate their “Approved” status on most crew agencies and job boards internationally. CrewPass is a sought out for accreditation and is recognised by the leading industry professionals. The background checking company allows crew to prove to employers that they are more suitable candidates than unchecked crew members.

For Vessels– As previously mentioned, yacht owners and guests always appreciate top security onboard. CrewPass improves safety onboard by minimising potential threats and risks that could occur with non-vetted crew members. Assets are also valuable and sometimes priceless to owners, so only the safest crew members must be allowed to step foot onboard. Any conflict, violence, theft etc., can damage a vessel’s reputation. Captains can feel confident that the crew placed to look after said guests are thoroughly checked and are suitable to give excellent service. Crew that go through CrewPass checks will undergo searches, including global sanctions lists, criminal records, watch lists, certificate authenticity validation and ID checks. There are options for vessels to pay to get every crew member checked before they get placed onboard or choose to search for already CrewPass Approved crew.

For Agencies – Crew recruitment agencies strive to place the best candidates onboard. By doing this, agencies have seen the need for CrewPass as the company takes on the time-consuming admin work from the vetting crew and handles the checking process for them. Not only does CrewPass enable agencies to place fully vetted crew, it also means they can reduce the risk of the dangerous crew being placed with other crew members. Recently, many crew members have spoken out about unsafe living arrangements with threatening crew with secret criminal records that never got flagged up in the recruitment process. CrewPass can ensure that all crew who go through their checks are secure. By crew being CrewPass Approved before reaching the agencies crew members can be placed almost immediately, cutting out unnecessary time.

For just £9.99 p/m (2-year term) crew can get one of the most comprehensive global criminal background checks on the market, ID verification, CrewPass Approved accreditation and status updates on the app. If an agency or a vessel wishes to verify their crew and get checks conducted on crew members, they can pay a one-off fee of £200 per crew member. If you wish to conduct checks on your crew, please contact us!

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Frey Recruitment X CrewPass

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

CrewPass is excited to announce a new partnership with Frey Recruitment! Frey Recruitment offers a personal approach to recruitment for yachts and luxury villas. The crew recruitment agency matches candidates’ skills and aspirations to complement the dynamics and needs of the vessel. The agency has a job board allowing crew to view and apply to various jobs, from deck positions to interior roles to shore-based positions and captain jobs.

Our core ambition with starting Frey was to offer a true personal approach to recruitment. Advertising, interviewing and reference checking can take valuable time from clients so we do the leg work for them and provide only carefully selected candidates.

-Frey Recruitment

Frey Recruitment now allows CrewPass Approved crew to validate their status when signing up for their crew registration process. “Approved” crew will now confidently display their status to all employers, letting them know they have passed a comprehensive criminal record check and ID verification. CrewPass Approved crew can click the “Approve with CrewPass” button to sign into their CrewPass account and automatically update Frey Recruitment’s system. 

This integration benefits all stakeholders as it reduces the amount of time spent on admin, provides a higher level of security onboard, and makes the recruitment process more sustainable. If you would like to know more about CrewPass provides crew, vessels and agencies, please visit our Superyacht Crew Background Check page.

Crew looking to find their next job can click this link to see all of the positions Frey Recruitment have to offer: https://freyrecruitment.com/

Not CrewPass Approved? Please kick off your checks today for just £9.99 per month* 

Sign Up
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CrewPass’ interview with Cara-Lees Yacht Crew

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

Introduction

CrewPass is happy to announce that we partnered with Cara-Lees Yacht Crew, a crew recruitment agency based in Edinburgh, Scotland. We were lucky enough to have Cara-Lee agree to an interview to inform our readers what her agency offers and other helpful insights/information relating to the yachting industry.

What Cara-Lees Yacht Crew has to offer

“The company offers a truly bespoke and personalised yacht crew placement service based platform of professionalism, honesty, transparency and unrivalled personal relationships.
Also, we don’t adhere to the ‘traditional’ office hours, enabling us to be on hand for clients when they find themselves in need of crew urgently night or day or on a Sunday, e.g. and this also enables us to encompass yachts working in differing time zones.”

What sets you apart from other crew recruitment agencies?

“Cara Lees Yacht Crew is about maintaining and reinstating the traditional values that perhaps may
have been lost along the way in recent years in crew placement services. Automation having taken
on a significant role in recruitment.”

“Another aspect is not just being driven by targets and sales, but making that placement because it’s
making a difference to someone’s life and career advancement. And also, importantly, contributing
positively to the crew dynamic, operations and yacht owner/guest experience. It’s important to take the time to find out what is beyond a CV.”

“Too often, good candidates can be and are overlooked by automation. If a crew member appears to
have ‘boat hopped,’ Ask why? Find out the back story. Have that conversation. Technology and automation certainly has its place, but person-to-person interaction shouldn’t be substituted.”

“Having worked in the yachting industry for many years on both private and charter, motor and sail,
along with several years in crew recruitment in a highly regarded crew agency, I’ve achieved a
wealth and depth of knowledge in all aspects of daily life in this unique setting – including
understanding the ideal crew dynamic. My business now brings this experience and knowledge
together in the recruitment and placement of top-class crew.”

Image sourced from Cara-Lees Yacht Crew's website

Why did you partner with CrewPass?

“In this incredibly unique and ever-growing industry, it has become more of a necessity to now be a lot more security and safety conscious when placing crew. Reference checks are obviously a good indicator but perhaps don’t always bring to light anything unsavoury about a character’s record or
arrests if they have them.”

“We are placing crew who work, eat, sleep and breathe in incredibly close proximity to one other. It
is imperative that we as a crew placement service have done our due diligence and vetted candidates as comprehensively as possible. CrewPass will help to ensure the safety of our crew, and
clients, who are some of the most influential and powerful individuals in the world, giving them
peace of mind that every measure has been taken in creating that safe haven for all.”

What trends have you noticed in the superyacht industry in 2022?

“It’s become a massively competitive industry recently, and a great flood of entry-level candidates wanting to break into the industry. Also, more mental health awareness and support are being made available. No longer is this an undiscussed subject, and crew is left to suffer in silence.”

What are your red flags when interviewing a crew member?

“Lack of manners, over-familiar, inappropriate language used. Any evasion to pass on referee
contact details is a big red flag. It’s very rare but has happened.”

What are the most in demand and sought out roles within the yachting industry?

“As there are more Deckhand and Stewardess positions for the level candidates. Rotation, of course, is also in demand. Charter yacht positions are also very much sought after.”

Image sourced from Cara-Lees Yacht Crew's website

What advice would you give a green crew member trying to get their first yacht job?

“Perseverance and determination are key. It’s can be very tough to break into the industry with such a lot of competition. But present your CV and yourself well. Be courteous and polite. If given a day work opportunity, work hard, be punctual (early is better still), show willingness and leave any attitude or demands on the dock! Go the extra mile, but be yourself.”

Our partnership...

“I’m delighted to have formed a partnership with CrewPass and firmly believe this is the way forward when it comes to ensuring a safer working and living environment onboard. Without doubt, it’s a very affordable and worthwhile accreditation that all crew should have and one I support fully.”

-Cara-Lees, founder of Cara-Lees Yacht Crew

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Galatea Recruitment has integrated CrewPass into their registration process.

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

CrewPass is excited to announce a new partnership with Galatea recruitment! Galatea Recruitment is a new recruitment agency which values supplying crew with a more bespoke service. The boutique agency provides job positions worldwide for green crew and experienced crew. The agency has HQs in both Palma and London but offers job opportunities across the globe via its website: https://www.galatearecruitment.com/

Galatea Recruitment strives to place crew in jobs of the highest standards, where they can truly excel, while finding yachts their most compatible team to deliver next level service and culture

– Galatea Recruitment, 2022

Boutique crew agencies have seen a rise in demand as the crew value a more personal approach within the recruitment process. Small agencies can offer a more hands-on recruitment process which more large corporations can’t compare.

Galatea Recruitment agrees that CrewPass’ background checks help crew gain employers’ trust and allow them to put forward more reliable crew confidently. 

“CrewPass and Galatea Recruitment’s integration shows a great progression within the yachting industry regarding improving security within the yachting recruitment industry.” – Jessica Collins, Marketing assistant, CrewPass. 

CrewPass Approved crew can now register with Galatea Recruitment and validate their accreditation allowing employers to see which crew member’s on their website have passed our comprehensive background checks. This allows crew to stand out from the crowd, and employers can feel assured that the person they place onboard is fully vetted and who they say they are.

If you are looking for your next yacht job, register with Galatea Recruitment and kick-start your yachting journey. If you wish to be a star candidate, sign up with CrewPass and start your checks today!

Become CrewPass Approved
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CrewPass is attending the METS Trade next week.

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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

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Yachtie’s string of violent crimes gets brought to light

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

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/  

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Macmillan Coffee Morning at CrewPass

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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:

Donate

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog!

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CrewPass Visits the Southampton International Boat Show

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

On the 21st of September, CrewPass made our way to Britain’s biggest festival of boating, The Southampton International Boat Show 2022. We are lucky that the boat show is right on our doorstep as our office is currently based in Southampton.

Out of consideration, on the 19th of September, the Southampton International boat show did not open as a mark of their respect for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her family. However, from the 20th, the festival was up and running again just in time for the sunny weather.

The show has been running since 1969 and became a 10 day event after the Mayflower Park permitted it to extend from 9 days under the Southampton International Boat Show Act 1997. This event has brought people from all over to come down and visit everything Southampton has to offer. It has proven to be a great day out for many families, potential buyers and marine professionals.

The show features everything the leisure marine industry has to offer. With a wide variety of watersport activities, innovative product/service exhibitors, great food and thrilling attractions, there are many things to do that benefit all. Opportunities to try SUPs, kayaking, riding a RIB or a more leisurely cruiser are featured at the show. Plus, thrill-seeker attendees have the option to experience the joy of getting on a signature Try-a-Boat and Get Afloat. However, suppose you prefer a more relaxing day out. In that case, there is plenty of bars, seating areas and food options, such as the Borrow a Boat Quarterdeck Bar & restaurant.

Environmental Day

The Southampton International Boat show hosts a series of topically themed days to highlight the hottest issues in the maritime industry. The show hosts 4 themed days: Schools And Careers Day, Environment Day, Women In Marine Day and Clubs And Associations Day. The 4 Spotlight days feature events and activities based on each specific topic. 

Wednesday, 21st September, was Environment Day which illustrates the importance of environmental responsibility, which is extremely important to the show and CrewPass. The show showcases notable advances in green technology and adopting environmental best practices.

CrewPass made our way to the Foredeck Stage to listen to the ‘Why are we taking on the world’s toughest row’, talk by the ‘In Our Element’ Atlantic rowing team, Hollie Luff, Rachel Lasham, Eliot Holman and Mike Hatch, together with Prof. Andy Pickford of the Centre for Enzyme Innovation, University of Portsmouth. The rowing team will be taking part in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge in December 2022. This challenge involves rowing more than 3000 miles from La Gomera, Canary Islands to English Harbour Antigua and Barbuda. This gruelling physical challenge will take an estimated 45 to 50 days. The team stated that they have been friends for over 15 years. ‘In Our Element’ comprises 4 people, Mike Hatch, Elliot Holman, Hollie Luff and Rachel Lasham. They will row in pairs taking turns, but the boat can have up to three people rowing at one time “if someone feels extra energetic that day”, humours Miss Lasham. The team expressed their passion to raise awareness and funds for innovative research, which could provide a significant breakthrough regarding a more sustainable future.

The money raised will go towards the development of enzymes which can break down man-made plastic materials such as one-use plastic bottles, providing a potential solution for infinite plastic recycling. 

University of Portsmouth professor John McGeehan who delivered the centre’s work says:

‘We are very proud to partner with the ‘In Our Element’ team who are undertaking The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – an inspirational endeavour where the crew will face the full force and beauty of nature in open seas, while raising awareness of the damage that plastic pollution is inflicting on our environment. I wish the crew every success and I am extremely grateful to all those who give their support to the ‘In Our Element’ team and our ongoing research in plastic-digesting enzymes.’

The ‘In Our Element’ team will endure sleep deprivation, dehydration, substantial calorie deficits, hallucinations, salt sores, 60ft waves and physical and mental exhaustion as they navigate one of the most active shipping zones in the world.

If you wish to donate to the cause and support the race, please use the link below:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SRYSF4B79NFJQ

Image sourced from: https://www.allatsea.co.uk/news/21913/

CrewPass' highlights

Sunseeker

One of our personal highlights of the show was getting to view some of the yachts that were in the marina. Sunseeker Brokerage stole the show with their Sunseeker Predator 55 EVO, Manhattan 68, 88 Yacht and 76 Yacht. The Predator 55 Evo’s sporty interior oozes contemporary minimalism with a new scope of fabrics and textures. Whilst the 88 Yacht displays new exterior lines and a sleek hardtop roof with an optional central opening canopy. Towering over the surrounding yachts, it’s pretty hard not to be impressed with Sunseeker’s showcase.

Oh Crepe!

Oh Crepe! is a family-run business from South Devon’s heart. The company provide the most delicious crepes for festivals, fetes and fairs. We got to try their traditional Sugar and lemon (v) crepe, which was mouthwatering. However, there are many great flavours to choose from, including Nutella, Apple and cinnamon (v), Banoffee pie (v), Mont Blanc and Oreos and cream (v). And for those who are more of a savoury person, there are plenty of options to choose from, including, Mature cheddar cheese and thick-cut ham, The Italian (Grated mozzarella, fresh tomato, and basil pesto), The Popeye (Mature cheddar cheese, fresh baby leaf spinach, toasted pine nuts and red onion chutney) and many more…

The Private Ship

CrewPass had an exciting opportunity to explore and discover the Morgenster, a 100-year-old Tall Ship that looks like a pirate ship! The Morgenster was launched in 1919 and was built at the shipyard Boot in Alphen. The tall ship, which was once a sport fishing vessel, has now been refitted as a brig. This ship is a crowd pleaser, especially for families with young kids.

Overall, we believe the show was a big hit, with so many things to see, learn and experience that it’s almost impossible to fit it in all in one day! Every day has something new making it well worth visiting for multiple days. We would like to thank all the exhibitors, the Southampton International Boat show team, and everyone else involved for providing such a great day out. CrewPass look forward to going next year.

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Interview with Paul Rutterford, Operations Director for Viking Crew.

by For AgenciesFor CrewFor Vessels

CrewPass teams up with Viking Crew to bring background checks to the attention of the yachting industry. Employers need to feel assured that who they place on board are not only well-qualified but also safe. Our integration into Viking Crew’s software allows employers to search CrewPass Approved crew who have passed a comprehensive criminal background check and ID verification. Whilst providing crew with the opportunity to gain the trust of their employers by validating their CrewPass status through Viking Crew’s website.

In the following blog post, Paul Rutterford speaks on behalf of Viking Crew to shine a light on the yacht recruitment industry, our partnership, and Viking Crew’s services.

Introduction

Viking Crew is the leading Cruise, Superyacht and Specialist maritime crew services provider.  Our aim is to keep the at-sea operations moving through Crew Placement, Crew Management and Crew Deployment.  A British company with a global reach, for over 30 years Viking has long been a pioneer in the maritime industry.

With 25 years’ experience within the maritime industry, as Operations Director I oversee all services that Viking Crew delivers to our clients and candidates on a daily basis.

Tell us about your experience in the yachting industry

I have been actively recruiting and crewing within the super yacht industry since coming ashore in 2011 and taking up the position of Marine Recruitment Manager with Viking; since then and progressing to Operations Director the company has placed and crew managed thousands of individuals in positions onboard some of the worlds most exclusive and prestigious super yachts.

What advice would you give green crew before joining the industry?

Do your research, and make sure you have the relevant and transferable skills that the super yacht industry requires.  It is a very high profile industry when only the best will do. Additional qualifications and training can assist in securing an opportunity within the industry.

Tell us more about Viking Crew

Viking Crew has been in business for almost 25 years, established in 1988 our reputation is a name that is at the forefront of the industry.  Our services offer a professional solution to the crewing challenges and needs across the superyacht sector.

"Viking was involved in the initial set up and delivery recruitment for the world’s largest yacht, and we still source candidates for her now, almost 10 years since her launch."

– Paul Rutterford, Operations Director for Viking Crew (2022)

What is the yacht recruitment market like in 2022?

After the challenges of the pandemic the yacht recruitment market remains strong, and with many new builds in the yards and some crew not returning to sea since Covid there are some excellent opportunities across the industry.

Why did Viking Crew join forces with CrewPass?

Safety and Security are two words synonymous with the yacht industry, Crew Pass provides the technology in a cost effective and efficient way to allow crew, captains and yacht professionals to have this all taken care of.  Viking Crew understands the importance of this within the superyacht industry and are proud to partner with Crew Pass in delivering this superb solution to Captains and crew. 

Where do you see Viking Crew’s future?

With more yachts being built, and the need for more crew we see the continuation of growth within the superyacht industry as an exciting time for Viking Crew.  Our services remain to be at the forefront when you need to source and manage super yacht crew onboard.  

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