ISM is a legal requirement for all charter yachts over 500 grt and exceeding 50M in length. Our SMS is now in use on a number of yachts and approved by a variety of Flag States. Cavendish White are committed to enabling and increasing safety awareness to our yacht owners and crew so that they operate at the highest level.

Our shore-based team provides everything that a yacht needs to be fully compliant with the Code. Our Security Offices will carry out a survey of the yacht and then submit an assessment and plan to Flag State. We obtain the required certification and make arrangements for the training of the yachts Ship Security Officer and carry out the various procedures and audits to maintain the system on board.

The MCA Large Yacht Code – LY2 – has been written specifically, as the model or standard, for which yachts over 24meters should be built too and the minimum levels to which they should be operated at. The Code does, however, allow yachts to comply with international regulations whilst being sympathetic to their particular needs. The Code covers construction, stability, equipment and personnel.

We strongly advise owners when building or considering a large refit to get the yacht built to Code Compliance as a minimum safety standard.

Our knowledge of the Code through implementation and our contacts at the MCA have proved beneficial to owners. We can assist with and aspect of Code Compliance from structure, stability, crew manning levels and qualifications.

Cavendish White has considerable knowledge in operating yachts worldwide. Our service provides cruise & voyage planning, weather routing services, canal transits, arranging berths and the supply of fuel, lubricating oils and everyday provisions. We can arrange with our worldwide network of agents to assist with local customs and immigration formalities. Cavendish White also offers a 24-hour Emergency Response service to all of our managed yachts. This system has proved beneficial to yachts in emergency situations as well as for technical support when busy, liaison with rescue services, coastguard, towage companies, next of kin, legal advice, insurers, Class and Flag State.

We can monitor routine maintenance and assist with the implementation of planned and preventative maintenance programmes for the yacht; it’s tenders, toys and systems. Captains and Engineers can have assistance in planning dry dock and refit periods and can call 24 hours in the event of breakdowns and for technical advice. We can source spare parts and despatch to any part of the world within 24 hours.

One of the biggest problems for an owner is appointing and retaining trained and safety conscious first class crew. Cavendish White will take care of the administration and all aspects of crew employment. Appropriately certified officers and qualified crew details are held in our database, but if we need to outsource we use selected known crew agencies.

There are many disciplines that encompass full crew administration including: recruitment, crew contracts, payroll, disciplinary issues, performance assessment, crew leave and travel, mail forwarding and training.

To maintain safe and efficient operation of the yacht it is important that all crew members are trained to required skill levels, and that training is ongoing. Some STCW courses have to be attended every three years to maintain and refresh the knowledge base – we thoroughly recommend that junior crew be able to attend training modules so that advancement can take place and appropriate professional skill levels attained.

We can advise on the appropriate selection of Flag State for particular yachts – which Flag will best suit an owners specific requirements and make all necessary arrangements for both the initial registration of a new build or the change of registration for an existing yacht. If required we would be pleased to advise if the status of the existing Flag is appropriate. Yachts also require certification, the levels of which vary, depending on their Flag, size, power output, area of operation and whether the yacht is registered as Private or Commercial. The introduction of recent legislation means that these requirements are changing. We monitor legislation to ensure that our managed yachts are certified correctly and operated in a legal manner.

We are able to prepare accurate operational budget forecasts with Owner and Captain, so as to plan ahead and anticipate expenditure. We will monitor actual against proposed and inform when the margins are exceeded. Reports are provided monthly and annually. Budgets can be provided for refits and new build projects. Cavendish White can assist with the placing of all necessary insurance cover required for the yacht, guests and crew. We strive to ensure that the most cost effective cover is found for all risks. We are familiar with the information required by insurers and work to ensure that the yachts operation does not breach insurance warranties. In the event of a claim Cavendish White will liaise with all parties to ensure a claims success.

The Cavendish White technical team includes experienced Captains, Engineers and Naval Architects who between them have many years of experience of refit, refurbishment, operational and new build project planning, monitoring and supervision. We are currently involved in providing technical consultancy and on site project management to a number of major projects.