Violence and Harassment Policies for Yacht Crews

The 2025 MLC amendments strengthen international attention on violence and harassment at sea. Yacht employers can use the transition period to review policies, reporting channels and management training.

For owners, family offices, captains and management companies, the objective is practical control. The process should be understandable to the crew, visible to authorised shore based managers and supported by records that can be retrieved when a question, review or inspection arises.

What yacht managers should review

1. Define unacceptable conduct clearly.

The responsible team should document the current position, identify missing evidence and assign ownership of the next action.

2. Cover guests, contractors and shore side interactions where relevant.

This should be checked against signed agreements, the vessel’s real operation and the instructions of the relevant authority or adviser.

3. Provide confidential reporting options.

Crew communication is part of the control: affected people should understand the rule, timing and route for questions.

4. Explain investigation and support arrangements.

The conclusion should be recorded so that another authorised manager can understand it without relying on verbal history.

A practical action plan

• Update the policy.
• Brief captains and department heads.
• Communicate the route to crew.
• Test escalation contacts.

Captains and shore side teams should work from the same information so that crew receive one consistent answer.

What good management looks like

A respectful culture requires visible leadership. Policies should support early reporting and fair handling rather than exist only for inspection purposes.

Chess & M supports internationally operating yachts with crew employment, payroll, HR administration, social security coordination and compliance follow up. To discuss a tailored solution for your vessel or fleet, contact the Chess & M team.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal, tax, medical or flag State advice. Requirements should be confirmed for the relevant vessel, employer, seafarer and jurisdiction.

Reference: International Maritime Organization, 2025 MLC amendments.