Dockwalk

When a crew member is sexually assaulted aboard a yacht, they are often told they have no recourse. But a potential remedy does exist, and it speaks the only language the industry can't ignore. In February, Dockwalk reported on a yachting industry searching for ways to make itself safer. But most of that effort asks the industry to police itself; policies and training are easy to announce and easy to ignore.

2 July 2026 By Rosie Dunningham Rosie Dunningham has been cooking on 230ft+ motor yachts since 2015. She writes a weekly Substack newsletter, chronicling her experiences in the industry, sharing recipes and occasionally spilling the tea on what life is really like on the high seas. Follow her on Instagram@all_is_rosie_ The galley is our office, our safe haven, our sacred space. And thankfully, they all come with doors - to seal off a fire, if for no other reason.

What are a crew’s obligations with the use of AIS — and what must you never do? We’ve seen a bit of attention put on Automatic Identification System (AIS) lately within the maritime industry. Sanctioned cargo ships and yachts have been going “dark,” turning their AIS off to avoid tracking. Even unsanctioned, high-profile yachts have reportedly turned theirs off to avoid being tracked. What does it mean for us? Maritime AIS is essentially what flight-tracker is for aviation.

Associate Editor Aileen Mack joined Dockwalk in July 2018. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. If she’s not at a concert or coffee shop, she is lost in a book, movie or a YouTube rabbit hole. Email Aileen at aileen@dockwalk.com. From June 22 to 25 at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, the 2026 Newport Charter Yacht Show displayed exceptional captains and crew at the heart of the U.S. charter industry alongside an impressive fleet of charter yachts.

A family friend introduced me to the world of yachting; he is currently a chief officer based in the US. I am currently a deckhand on board Eternity and I love it; my current goal is to progress into the bosun role. I love working out on the deck with the crew and the hands-on nature of the job. What makes Eternity great is definitely our crew — particularly the crew dynamic. We all have longevity on board. The thing that I love about this boat is that we all work as one, like a family.

Laura Shaughnessy is the former managing editor at Dockwalk. Dual roles rarely come with new titles, contracts, or pay adjustments. They tend to develop quietly — when a boat is short-staffed, when someone leaves mid-season, or when the captain asks, “Can you help with this for now?” For interior crew, that “for now” often lasts longer than expected. Chief Stewardess Michelle Cronje and Stewardess/Masseuse Cathy Skinner have both navigated dual-role setups.

Patrick Levitzke is from Port Macquarie, Australia. He left in 2019 to begin yachting, and found his first job on a private 82-foot Horizon, cruising the U.S. East Coast, with just the captain. Currently, he’s a second officer on a 60-meter expedition/science research yacht, operating out of Australia. Retention is the flip side of what good longevity looks like on a CV.

While operating a private chef recruitment agency, Barry D'Arcy sees chef CVs practically every day, and he shares what sets a chef CV apart, plus some dos and don'ts. There is a huge difference between a well-put-together CV that has been thoughtfully considered and outlines the candidate in the best possible light and a CV where the person who wrote it doesn’t know how to express themselves on paper or put their best foot forward.

Captain Andrew Meyer has learned that leading requires mutual respect and remains committed to always learning and improving as a leader. How did you get started in yachting? My career began shortly after school, when a close friend and I decided to pursue sailing professionally. (We are still best mates to this day and he is a captain, too.) We completed the necessary certifications and traveled overseas to enter the yachting industry.

Your STCW Basic Safety Training certificate may be valid, but can your yacht crew still respond effectively when seconds count? Resolve Maritime Academy's intensive one-day Revalidation course combines realistic firefighting and water survival training to ensure crews are truly prepared for offshore emergencies. The call comes through at 03:00am. Fire in the engine room. Thick smoke. Rising heat. Your crew has minutes - maybe seconds - to respond correctly. In that moment, will they trust each other?