Yard periods can mean different things for different departments - some look forward to possible downtime while others, usually engineers, are preparing for a revolving door of contractors. In all cases, a yard period is an opportunity to learn what works and what doesn’t.
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As an experienced superyacht ETO, Ryan Porter shares his insight into the role for anyone wanting to get into the superyacht industry. From fixing the captain's email, to troubleshooting an engine fault, the role of an ETO is ever broad and varied.
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Rotational positions are becoming more common and naturally they are very popular with crew seeking a greater work life balance. Efficient handovers are key, and nowadays there is a raft of software and tools available to ensure they work smoothly.
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Despite there being such a high demand for it, the word ‘reliability’ is consistently overlooked when sourcing a new AV/IT system. Ryan Porter highlights the seven parts to consider, all of which play a vital role in the overall outcome of any integration or systems upgrade.
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With the world seemingly opening up again after the pandemic, who among us isn't interested in faster, more reliable and significantly cheaper connectivity? There are some universal limitations, but most owners could save a fortune and enjoy a better experience with minimal capital outlay.
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News travels quick. Maybe it’s because we live in an age of the creating and sharing information that we are hearing of more and more fires on board yachts. Most crewmembers out there will know of someone who has had an encounter with an onboard fire incident.
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The impacts of COVID-19 have reached far and wide within the yachting community. Owners, suppliers and crew alike have all been impacted in recent months, causing a revaluation of how different elements of the industry interact.
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New builds are a chance to improve on the way things have been done in the past and give owners and build engineers the opportunity to fulfil their wildest design and engineering dreams. The deployment of planned maintenance syste...
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Despite making the right noises, it can seem that the yachting industry is desperately slow to change: in British shipping just 1% of engineer officers are women, for example. But perhaps the pertinent question is whether the work...
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The exact role of the engineering watchkeeper varies from vessel to vessel. A vessel's size, number of crew and weather are important factors, as are the expectations of the Chief Engineer or Captain. It can therefore be difficult...
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The decision to adopt a new technology onboard is a significant decision. With any new product, component or software comes an inherent learning curve and with that, stumbles along the way. Engineering departments can be effective...
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Not all water is the same and not for the reasons you might expect. The tap water I use to fill my fish tank is positively charged, which is why algae and water borne diseases can thrive. But the water inside the cells of my fish...
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Ever wondered what it would be like to cross the Atlantic on a superyacht? And what about crossing the Atlantic on a yacht that’s on an even bigger ship? Floating yacht transport ships carrying superyachts around the world has bec...
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Since as long as people have used the water for transportation there has been the need to rid vessels of all the waste that human bodies emit on a daily basis. In the early days a simple wooden platform over the side of the ship s...
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Yachts engineers, the technical knowledge and qualifications required, have come a long way since the turn of the century. Back in the day, with little or no regulations, the term engineer was used loosely in the yachting communit...
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For several years the yachting industry has suffered a shortage of qualified engineers. Another problem has been the lack of transferability of engineering qualifications across different sectors of the marine industry. Marine Inf...
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When I first went to sea (don't ask when), we used things like Loran C and sextants, women were on the odd ship here and there, but the British fleet didn't start to accept them for many years to come. Being transgender, I have se...
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There seems to be some evidence that initial 2016 pay rates offered in commercial yachting are somewhat below the standard rates for the wider shipping industry. I would argue that the reasons behind this may potentially harm the ...
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Luxury yachting is still an industry in which men tend to hold deck and engineering roles while women more usually work in the interior department as stewardesses. However, a ground shift for gender equality in yachting is gatheri...
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In the beginning, there was light, then earth, then water. Approximately 97 percent of the earth’s water is salt water, 3 percent is fresh water and less than 1 percent of that is fit for human consumption. It's time we got smart ...
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The Tier III regulations of the United Nations International Marine Organization (IMO) regarding marine emissions came into force on 1 January. They specify a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions by nearly 80% compared to Tier II...
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Over the coming months owners of superyachts will be looking very closely at the latest developments in the introduction of legislation from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) concerning the discharge of ballast water.
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Q: John, Chief Engineer, 41: "After several friends told me about luxury yachting I recently made the move over from commercial, but I don’t really understand what’s so great about yachting.
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This article is written with the dual aim of educating and preparing yacht Engineers, their Captains, Operators, Owners and Management Companies to best plan and comply with the regulations and good practice for the production, tr...
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The PYA and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) are working collaboratively to support Yacht engineers who are keen to progress their careers through Professional Registration qualifications, such as Chartered Engi...
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There are 90,000 ocean going cargo ships, and 85% of all ship pollution is in the northern hemisphere. With the increasing demand to reduce exhaust gas emissions created by fuel and engine selection, changes are afoot, and Tim Mos...
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All diesel engines produce soot as a product of combustion. A 99kW generator installed on a yacht before 2012 is allowed to produce over 700 grams (more than 1.5 pounds) of particulate matter (primarily soot) per day.
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While diving for treasure on a boat in the South Pacific, the first sign of trouble for engineer Mel Thunderbolt was when she first heard the engine rev a little too high.
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In light of the recent yacht fires in Genoa, engineer Mel Thunderbolt shares her own lucky escape from a serious engine room fire and the lessons learnt from the experience.
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It’s safe to assume that you are reading this because you like boats. Maybe you like the atmosphere aboard them and that feeling of being an important part of the crew; or perhaps you enjoy the engineering side; possibly even the ...
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