What the job covers
The owner appoints a Central Agent, normally one of a few large brokerage houses. That firm runs the yacht's charter programme and keeps every other broker up to date on where she is, when she is free and what she offers. The charter manager is the person at the Central Agent who does this work. Retail brokers bring the clients. The charter manager fills the calendar for the owner, and on the large yachts in the Mediterranean the contract is usually the MYBA agreement.
Fraser's Monaco advert sets out the core of the job: plan each yacht's season to get the most from calendar, itineraries and revenue, market the fleet to retail brokers, answer their enquiries quickly and negotiate contracts to MYBA standards. Burgess adds vetting charterers and managing contracts and funds, and says its charter managers meet the crew and visit the yacht. Burgess gives each owner a team of three: a charter manager, a second manager and an assistant.
What a working week looks like
Most of the week goes on enquiries and paperwork. Job adverts list replying to broker enquiries, keeping Central Agency files and contracts in order, renewing documents before they expire, and keeping the booking calendar and the office diary in step. A Yacrew advert also lists checking with captains that the marketing material is current: crew profiles, refit and maintenance periods, itineraries and water toys. There is regular contact with the finance team on charter money, and Fraser asks for performance reports to owners on booking rates, revenue and utilisation.
Positioning counts for more than people expect. In BOAT International, one charter manager points out that a charter starting in Sardinia after one ends in Saint-Tropez costs two to three days of transit. One charter manager quoted in the same piece calls eight to ten charter weeks a success on the largest yachts, and eight to twelve normal at 60 metres. Spring and autumn bring boat shows, where advertisers expect the charter manager to represent the fleet.
Where the job meets the crew
The MYBA notes for charter captains set out the handover. Once a charter starts, the captain confirms to the Central Agent that it began as the contract says: right port, date, time, number of guests and named charterer. If guests cause damage, the captain tells both the broker and the Central Agent straight away. The guest belongs to the booking broker, so the captain debriefs that broker after the trip. Guest contact details and the broker's correspondence must not be passed to the Central Agent.
For crew thinking of moving ashore, this is the strongest argument for knowing the job from on board. The charter manager depends on the captain for accurate specifications, honest refit dates and a crew who will deliver.
Who hires charter managers
Charter managers are hired by the brokerage and management houses that act as Central Agents. Recent adverts came from Fraser in Monaco, from YACHTZOO through Yotspot, from an established MYBA firm in the United Kingdom through Yacrew, and from Quay Group, which was recruiting for a European charter management fleet based in Monaco. Hirers ask for experience in the charter market, strong English with other languages as a plus, and confidence with Microsoft Office, CRM software and tools such as Yachtfolio. Many adverts also expect you to bring in new yachts.
Few adverts print a salary. Yotspot's charter manager page gives EUR 3,000 to 4,000+ a month as a guide. Take that as one job board's indication, not a market survey.
What you need
- Yachting backgroundOne UK advert asked for experience in the yachting industry, as crew, shoreside or both, plus experience in the charter market. Fraser's Monaco advert asks for at least five years in a similar charter manager role.
- STCW Basic Safety TrainingThe Yacrew advert for a UK charter manager listed a valid STCW Basic Safety Training certificate as a requirement.
- MYBA contract knowledgeFraser asks for working knowledge of MYBA contracts and of Yachtfolio, and expects contracts to be negotiated to MYBA standards.
- LanguagesFluent English is standard. Fraser counts Italian or other languages as an advantage.
- Office systemsAdverts ask for strong Microsoft Office and CRM skills. Some add experience with accounting, HR or legal work.
- Right to workAdverts are tied to the office location, for example EU residence for an EU post or the right to live and work in the UK.
By location
| Spain | To charter in Spain, the owner or a charter management company must hold a charter licence and register as a Spanish taxpayer, and the yacht must be on a commercial register. Yachts under 24m also need a survey, and VAT on charter fees is declared every quarter. |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | HMRC allows VAT registration for yacht chartering only where it is a genuine economic activity. It may ask for evidence of length of hire, number of customers and earnings. |
| Malta, France and Italy | A Vistra Marine note says these countries offer a reduced VAT rate on charter fees for time spent on the high seas. Each country sets its own conditions. |
How to get there
- FirstWork on a charter yachtLearn how charters run from the crew side. Some hirers ask for yachting experience, on board or ashore.
- EarlyCharter assistant or junior roleSupport a charter manager with files, contracts and calendars. One UK firm offered a first summer to learn its Central Agency relationships.
- After several years in charter or yachtingCharter managerRun a portfolio of Central Agency yachts, handle the brokers, the contracts and reporting to owners.
- LaterHead of charterOne advert described the charter manager post growing into Head of Chartering, with a team of its own.
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Related pages
Questions people ask
Is a charter manager the same as a charter broker?
No. The retail broker finds and represents the charterer. The charter manager, working for the Central Agent, represents the yacht and her owner and keeps the yacht's calendar full.
Who signs a MYBA charter contract?
BOAT International says the MYBA agreement is usually signed by four parties: the head of the charter party, the owner, a stakeholder (often the Central Agent) and the broker. The charter manager negotiates it and makes sure the booking is carried out correctly.
Does a charter manager deal with VAT and commercial registration?
They need a working knowledge of both, because a yacht has to be commercially registered before she can charter, and VAT rules differ by country. Detailed VAT and registration work usually goes to corporate and fiscal specialists.
How many charter weeks is a good season?
One charter manager quoted by BOAT International calls eight to ten weeks a success on the largest yachts, and eight to twelve normal at 60 metres. The yacht, her cruising area and how keen the owner is all shift that number.
Can former crew become charter managers?
Yes. Several adverts ask for experience on a yacht or in the charter market, and one UK advert asked for yachting experience as crew or shoreside. Crew who know the guest trip from the inside understand what the captain and brokers need.
Sources
- Fraser Yachts: Charter Manager vacancy, Monaco
- Burgess: Charter management
- Yacrew: Charter Manager vacancy, United Kingdom
- Yotspot: Charter Manager jobs
- MYBA: Information for charter yacht captains and crew
- BOAT International: How to plan and book a charter
- BOAT International: What it really costs to run a charter yacht
- BOAT International: Changes to Spain's charter licences and tax
- GOV.UK HMRC manual VBNB46000: letting on hire of boats
- Quay Group: current jobs
