After a year of record non-conformities across both private and charter yachts, 2026 is shaping up to be a turning point for yacht compliance. Flag states are tightening requirements, management companies are demanding more traceability, and auditors are increasing the depth of their inspections. The result? Compliance standards are rising — quickly — and the industry isn’t ready. Why Audit Expectations Are Increasing The evolution is being driven by several factors: Expandin

The modern yacht runs on technology, Starlink, VSAT, WhatsApp, Teams, cloud drives, reporting software, and internal tools, yet most crews feel more overwhelmed than ever.The reason isn’t a lack of digital tools. It’s the lack of connection between them. In 2025, we interviewed captains, pursers, chief officers, and ETOs across the Med and Caribbean. Their message was the same:“Everything is digital, but nothing is centralised.” How Fragmentation Creates Daily Inefficiency Th

Let’s be honest — for years, “AI in yachting” sounded like a futuristic buzzword. Something for shipyards or tech conferences, not the day-to-day life aboard. But 2025 is proving otherwise. From maintenance to inventory to crew scheduling, artificial intelligence is quietly becoming one of the most powerful tools in a captain’s operational toolkit. And it’s not about replacing people. It’s about making better, faster, data-driven decisions that keep yachts running smoother, l

Technology has transformed yachting, but one challenge still keeps captains awake at night: knowledge loss. When a chief engineer steps off mid-season, when the new first officer arrives, or when a management company takes over vital operational context can vanish in an instant. And it’s not because the tools don’t exist; it’s because the knowledge never made it into them. When “It’s in My Head” Becomes a Liability Every yacht runs on systems but also on people. And over time

Access chaos is a hidden operational threat aboard many yachts. In 2025, where crews rely on digital platforms for everything from maintenance to communication, unclear or outdated role assignments can cause delays, confusion, and even serious compliance risks. From rotating crew schedules to external contractors and temporary hires, yachts today often involve multiple stakeholders accessing critical systems. Without clear access controls and permissions, even the most advanc

Let’s face it, Excel has had a long run. But in 2025, tracking yacht maintenance with spreadsheets and static files is no longer just old-fashioned. It’s a liability. We’ve seen it across the industry: multi-million-euro yachts managed with paper folders, Google Sheets, or Word docs. These tools can work in a pinch but they don’t scale, and they’re not built for the dynamic nature of yacht operations. The Risks of Manual Logs Lack of traceability : Who updated the log? When?

When Tech Isn’t Enough We’re in 2025. Yachts have VSAT, Starlink, WhatsApp, Teams, and more cloud dashboards than most small businesses. Yet, communication breakdowns are still one of the top reasons things go wrong on board. The tools are there. The problem? The loop is broken. The Communication Gap That Costs Everyone Here’s how it plays out in real life: The engineer flags a stabilizer fault. The captain makes a note to mention it during the next ops call. A manager halfw

The Hidden Risk in Every Yacht Operation Handover. It sounds routine, a checklist, a quick brief, a few WhatsApp messages exchanged. But in reality, this transitional moment is one of the biggest risk zones in yachting operations. Every time a captain, engineer, or manager rotates off, they take something vital with them: context. And too often, it doesn’t come back. What Gets Lost in Translation Even with the best intentions, here’s what typically happens during crew or man

WhatsApp is the go-to tool for yacht support quick, easy, and everyone has it. But it's not built for structured service. When a crew...

Warranty management is one of the most overlooked areas in yachting operations, until something goes wrong. Many shipyards and aftersales...