Marine Crew Insurance - A Guide for Yacht Owners

Marine crew insurance is a specialised form of coverage designed to protect both yacht crew and owners from the financial risks associated with illness, injury, or medical emergencies while at sea.

For luxury yacht owners, providing comprehensive insurance is not only a legal and ethical responsibility but also a key element in maintaining a safe, professional, and motivated crew.

Chapters

1. What is Marine Crew Insurance?
2. Should Yacht Owners Provide Health Insurance?
3. Who’s Eligible for Yacht Crew Insurance?
4. Yacht Crew Insurance Benefits
5. Types of Yacht Crew Insurance
   • Short Term Cover
   • Long Term Cover
6. What Does Yacht Crew Insurance Cover?
7. What Else Can Yacht Crew Insurance Cover?
8. Key Takeaways

What is Marine Crew Insurance?

Marine crew insurance is a specialised form of coverage designed to protect both yacht crew and owners from the financial risks associated with sickness, injury, or medical emergencies while at sea.

For luxury yacht owners, providing comprehensive insurance is not only a legal and ethical responsibility but also a key element in maintaining a safe, professional, and motivated crew.

Should Yacht Owners Provide Health Insurance?

Providing health insurance for yacht crew is widely recognised as a best practice among responsible yacht owners.

Crew members are often far from shore for extended periods, meaning that access to healthcare is limited.

By offering coverage, yacht owners not only safeguard their employees but also protect their own interests, as unprotected medical incidents can lead to significant operational disruptions and costly emergency evacuations.

Additionally, offering insurance improves crew morale and retention, demonstrating that the owner values the wellbeing of their team.

Who’s Eligible for Yacht Crew Insurance?

Marine crew insurance typically covers all professional crew members, from deckhands and engineers to chefs and stewards.

Policies may extend to family members if specified, though this is less common.

Eligibility often depends on employment status, qualifications, and the nature of duties aboard the yacht.

Many insurers require that crew members hold valid seafarer medical certificates (such as ENG1 in the UK) and STCW Basic Safety Training, as these ensure personnel are medically fit to work at sea.

Yacht Crew Insurance Benefits

Marine crew insurance provides many benefits, including:

• Access to medical treatment at sea or ashore, covering both minor and major illnesses.
• Emergency evacuation coverage, essential if serious injury or illness occurs in remote waters.
• Financial protection against high healthcare costs that could otherwise fall on the owner or crew.
• Legal compliance, particularly for yachts operating internationally, where crew insurance may be mandated.
• Increased crew satisfaction and retention, as comprehensive coverage signals professionalism and care for employee wellbeing.

Types of Yacht Crew Insurance

Marine crew insurance policies can generally be divided into two main categories:

Short Term Cover

Short-term policies are designed for crew working seasonally or on short-term contracts.

They provide basic health coverage, emergency evacuation, and accident protection for the duration of the contract.

These plans are flexible and ideal for yachts hiring temporary or contract-based crew.

Long Term Cover

Long-term insurance is tailored for permanent crew members or vessels with year-round operations.

These policies offer broader benefits, including extended medical coverage, chronic illness management, and routine preventive care.

They often include additional perks such as dental and eye-care coverage.

What Does Yacht Crew Insurance Cover?

As a bare minimum, marine crew insurance covers:

• Medical expenses, including consultations, hospitalisation, and treatments.
• Emergency evacuations to the nearest suitable medical facility.
• Repatriation costs, returning the crew member home if required due to illness or injury.
• Accidental injuries, both on and off the yacht, during the period of employment.
• Coverage limits vary depending on the insurer and the yacht’s operational region, with international coverage being particularly important for yachts cruising in remote waters.

What Else Can Yacht Crew Insurance Cover?

Some comprehensive policies extend beyond basic medical coverage to include:

• Dental insurance for routine check-ups and emergency treatment.
• Eye care covering examinations, corrective lenses, or minor procedures.
• Life insurance, providing financial support to dependents in the event of death.
• Personal accident coverage, offering compensation for injury that prevents work.
• Disability insurance, protecting crew income if long-term disability occurs.
• Hospital cover, ensuring access to private or semi-private hospital rooms and procedures if required.

These additional features allow yacht owners to create a tailored package that meets the needs of their crew and the operational requirements of the yacht.

Key Takeaways

Marine crew insurance is an essential component of responsible yacht ownership.

It protects crew members, ensures operational continuity, and safeguards owners from unforeseen financial burdens.

By choosing the right policy, yacht owners can provide peace of mind, maintain a motivated team, and ensure compliance with international maritime standards.

Comprehensive coverage, whether short-term or long-term, enhances safety, professionalism, and the overall reputation of the vessel. Providing marine crew insurance is more than just a legal or contractual obligation.

It is a statement of commitment to the wellbeing and safety of the people who operate and maintain the yacht, often in challenging and remote maritime environments.

Disclaimer: Any advice in this publication is not intended or written by Marine Accounts to be used by a client or entity for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party matters herein.