During our recent superyacht crew salary survey, in which over 280 Captains provided detailed information on packages for all onboard roles, we also collected insights into crew training and benefits.
In somewhat unexpected results, the percentage of all benefits has decreased overall by around 5% on average. We also found that 65% of the participating yachts claim to provide a crew training and career budget, down from 70% in 2022.
Decreasing additional benefits
The number of yachts providing an ‘other monetary bonus’ has declined 16% and those offering crew private healthcare has dropped 10%.
Most disappointingly is the fact that mental health support is only provided by a quarter of yachts, down 5% since 2022, despite our Crew Mental Health report showing that there has been little improvement in onboard wellbeing.
Comparing exclusively private yachts and those that charter too, the former fare slightly better when it comes to the benefits on offer.
In particular, 10% more private yachts say they offer a training and career support budget as well as use of crew vehicle and a 13 month bonus.
Breaking the benefits package down by yacht size, however, suggests that bigger is not always better. Although the 100m+ yachts have improved their benefits packages the most, they still underperform in many areas.
These include 13 month bonus, use of yacht toys and mental health support, although the latter is 2.5 times more than in 2022. Private healthcare onboard 100m+ yachts is most common too, at 69%, and a rise from 38% in 2022.
Benefits onboard 80-89m and 90-99m yachts have declined the most, with only increases in funded socials and a 13 month bonus respectively.
Despite being more likely to have crew gym facilities, this benefit has also declined onboard 80m+ as much as 30%.
The yacht size bracket with an almost clean streak of improved benefits or no change is the 70-79m yachts, which is also most likely to provide mental health support (57%).
Slight decline in crew training support
This year, we also delved deeper into onboard training. Of the 65% of yachts who claim to provide a crew training and career support budget, it was revealed that the average budget per person per year is €2,567.
In the majority of cases (71%), crew members pay upfront and are reimbursed after a certain length of service onboard.
For a quarter of crew, they are able to complete the training while onboard and any additional expenses are covered. The most common scenario, however, is that crew have to complete training during their leave, but costs are covered (37%).
Although it is disappointing to see that the number of yachts offering training and career support budgets has reduced in many cases, with only 40-59m and 70-79m yachts seeing increases, the budgets themselves are pretty good.
Tim Clarke, co-founder and Director at Quay Crew, commented:
“We are increasingly finding that crew are looking for longer-term careers onboard and having access to structured training will significantly enhance retention within the industry.
“More consideration should maybe be given to allowing crew to undertake this training whilst onboard, however, especially if leave is only standard.
“Boosting additional benefits is also a good way to attract the top candidates when salary and leave packages are not the best.”
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