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Yacht crew positions explained, department by department

Deck crew and interior crew at work on a large motor yacht

A yacht is run in departments, each with its own ladder. Knowing them helps you choose the right job title for your profile, which is the first thing an employer searches by.

Deck

The deck team keeps the outside of the yacht immaculate, handles lines and tenders, runs the water toys and stands watches.

  • Deckhand (and junior deckhand): where most people start. Washing down, polishing, line handling, tender driving.
  • Lead deckhand and bosun: run the deck day to day and organise the team.
  • Mates and officers (2nd officer, chief officer, 1st mate): navigation, safety, and the running of the deck under the captain. These roles need certificates of competency.
  • Captain: responsible for the yacht, the crew and everyone on board.

Interior

The interior team looks after the guests and the inside of the yacht: service, housekeeping, laundry, flowers, the detail.

  • Stewardess or steward (junior, 3rd, 2nd): where most interior crew start.
  • Chief stewardess or chief steward: runs the interior and its budget. On large yachts a purser handles accounts, crew paperwork and logistics.

Engineering

Engineers keep everything working: engines, generators, electrics, air conditioning, water makers.

  • Deck engineer or 3rd engineer, then 2nd engineer, then chief engineer. An ETO looks after electronics and AV/IT on larger yachts. A sole engineer does it all on a smaller one.

Galley

  • Crew chef and sous chef cook for the crew or support the head chef; the head chef cooks for the owner and guests. On small yachts a cook-stewardess does both jobs.

Combined and specialist roles

Smaller yachts need people who cross over: deck/stew, stew/deck, cook-stew-mate. Larger ones carry specialists such as massage therapists, dive instructors, nannies and security.

Choosing your title on Crew HQ

  • Pick the position you are applying for now as your main job title, not the one you hope to hold in three years.
  • Add your experience level honestly. Employers filter by it, and "No experience" is searched for too.
  • Crew HQ matches you to members who are hiring for your title: see Who is hiring.

Questions people ask

Is Crew HQ a crew agency?

No. Nobody sits between crew and the person hiring. Employers search, open a profile and get in touch directly. There is no placement fee and no commission, for crew or for employers.

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What makes a profile get noticed?

In this order: your main job title, where you are now, your main qualification, a CV, a photo and at least one reference. Complete profiles are shown ahead of thin ones when Crew HQ suggests crew for a position, and Premium profiles come first.

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I have a job. Can I stay on Crew HQ without my crew knowing I am looking?

Set your availability to "Currently employed" and your profile is left out of crew search, or to "Employed, open to offers" to stay findable. With Premium, Stealth Mode lets you look for a new position without your current crew noticing.

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How do I apply for a job?

Open the job on the job list or the job map and show your interest. The employer gets your profile, CV and references. It is free.

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Will Crew HQ tell me about jobs?

Yes, two ways. Jobs posted by people in your crew network reach you by email the moment they are posted. Jobs that match your profile come in one email a week, while your profile is active and set to looking for work. You can also tick "Yacht jobs" in your email choices for the jobs round-up.

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