Deckhand / Security
A deckhand / security does a full day on deck and is also the person who decides who comes up the passerelle. Owners with a public profile, young families or valuable art aboard like having one crew member trained for both jobs. Most are ex-military or ex-police. Some are career deckhands who have added close protection training.
The jobWhat fills the day
The deck half of the job is the same as any deckhand's. You wash down, polish stainless, handle lines, launch tenders, drive guests and run the water toys. The security half sits on top of that. You run gangway watch and access control, keep the visitor and contractor log, check deliveries, watch the CCTV, and know where every guest is when they leave the yacht. You also help the Ship Security Officer with ISPS drills, the security plan and lockdown procedures.
With guests aboard the balance changes. You may escort the principal's children to a beach club in Porto Cervo or shadow a shore trip in St Barths, staying close without being noticed. You stay sober, you watch the crowd and you keep the tender ready to leave. When the yacht is empty you go back to sanding, varnish and maintenance. Before a Red Sea or Gulf of Aden transit you help plan citadel drills and liaise with the embarked armed guard team, if the owner has hired one.
Size matters. On 40-60m yachts you are a deckhand who happens to hold security tickets, and the captain values you as an extra pair of trained eyes. On 70-90m yachts the role is more defined, with set hours on access control and a direct line to the captain. Above 90m most owners bring a dedicated close protection team, and the deckhand / security often becomes the yacht-side link to that team.
Captains and agents usually hire people with service or police backgrounds, a clean record and a calm manner. Discretion counts for more than size. If you keep at the deck side, you can move to lead deckhand and bosun in the normal way and go on to officer tickets. Others go full security, taking a dedicated close protection or Ship Security Officer post on a larger yacht or within a private family office.
Skills captains look for
- Gangway and access control
- Discreet close protection
- Tender driving and launch
- ISPS security procedures
- Threat and risk assessment
- Exterior maintenance and detailing
- Trauma first aid
A day aboardOwner trip, 65m motor yacht at anchor off Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Take over the night watch handover, check the CCTV log and walk the decks and swim platform for anything out of place.
Morning washdown with the deck team, chamois the windows and set up the aft deck before guests wake.
Brief with the captain on the day's movements. Two guests want a beach club lunch ashore and the principal's children want to go out on the jet skis.
Run the jet ski session, staying on the rescue tender and keeping charter boats and photographers at a sensible distance.
Drive the tender to the beach club, walk the venue, then hold a discreet position near the guests until they are ready to come back.
Back aboard for a late lunch in the crew mess.
Gangway duty while a florist and provisioning van deliver to the tender. Check IDs against the agent's list and log every visitor.
Off duty for dinner and a few hours' rest before the evening tender runs.
Ferry guests back from dinner in town, then do a final security round, lock exterior doors and hand over to the night watch.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Expect a premium of roughly 500-1,000 USD a month over a standard deckhand for recognised security qualifications. Charter tips can add a further month's salary or more each season, and private yachts with high-profile owners often offer rotation. See the Bosun & Deckhand salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Gets you hired
- Ship Security Officer (SSO) certificate
- SIA Level 3 Close Protection or equivalent
- FREC 3 or trauma first aid course
- PWC Personal Watercraft licence
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
Visas
- US B1/B2
- Schengen right to work or visa
Where it leadsA typical career path
Bosun & Deckhand jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need a military or police background?
It is not a legal requirement, but most captains shortlist people who have one. A clean criminal record and a recognised close protection qualification, such as the SIA Level 3, are the minimum for a serious application. Career deckhands can move into the role by adding PDSD, SSO and close protection training.
Will I carry a weapon?
No. Private yachts do not issue firearms to crew, and carrying them would cause serious problems with flag states and port authorities. For high-risk transits, owners hire specialist armed guard teams who embark and disembark at set points.
How is this different from a security officer or close protection officer?
A dedicated close protection officer does nothing else and often travels with the principal off the yacht. A deckhand / security works the deck all day and covers security on top of that, which suits mid-size yachts that cannot justify a separate security cabin.
Can I still progress on deck?
Yes. You keep building sea time like any deckhand, so lead deckhand, bosun and the OOW ticket are all open to you. Some people later choose the security track and take Ship Security Officer or close protection posts on 90m+ yachts.