Demand high for mega yacht crew

THE demand for Filipino professionals to work in private mega yachts in Europe and the United States is projected to grow strong this year despite the slow growth in the global economy.

Diligence, excellent English communication and good interpersonal skills are among Filipinos’ advantage over workers from other countries like China, Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal, said Belinda Wong, owner of Eurasian Maritime Corp., a company that deploys Filipino maritime workers to ship owners globally.

Wong said there is a high demand for professional crewmembers for private mega yachts globally. She said Europe is in need of skilled workers for chartering services and luxury leisure travels for its booming yachting industry.

“Owners of these mega yachts are so rich that they buy and invest in a lot of things despite economic conditions,” said Wong.

According to the latest survey by Superyacht United Kingdom (UK) and British Marine Federation (BMF), the revenue of the superyacht industry last year was over £450 million, an increase of 6.6 percent from the previous year.

Superyacht UK is an association under the BMF. It represents 186 members and over 70 percent of the total UK industry operating in the design, building, supply chain and service provision of yachts over 24 meters in length.

Eurasian Maritime Corp. which has an office on A.S. Fortuna St. in Mandaue City, has deployed over a hundred crewmembers to 40 clients in Europe and the United States since their operation in 2009.

Positions

Wong said they already deployed Filipinos on board registered mega yachts for various sea-based positions such as deckhands, motor men, engineers, stewards and hotel and restaurant management professionals.

Starting this January, Wong said they will deploy 10 to 15 Filipino crewmembers per month in preparation for summer yachting. The company accepts applicants with at least two years working experience.

A 126-meter length yacht, which is considered the biggest, requires 40 to 50 crewmembers. A 45-meter length yacht, on the hand, which Eurasian currently serves, requires 16 crewmembers.

Wong said she will be in Monaco this month to participate in this year’s Monaco Yacht Show. The show will run from Sept. 19 to 22. Wong said her participation will enable her to strengthen linkages in the yacht industry to get more clients so she could deploy Filipinos to work overseas.

She said yacht crewmembers receive a minimum salary of 1,800 euros per month.
She said workers in mega yachts have better working conditions as they work for people with a high-end lifestyle.