Designated Person Ashore (DPA)
Every company running ISM-certified yachts must name a Designated Person Ashore. The DPA links the bridge to the boardroom. Captains call the DPA after an incident, and the DPA audits whether the safety management system works on board as well as on paper. It is a senior shoreside job, usually filled by former captains and chief officers.
The jobWhat fills the day
The ISM Code says every company operating vessels it covers must name a person ashore with direct access to the highest level of management. On yachts, that person is the DPA. You monitor the safety management system across a fleet, check that crews follow the procedures, and make sure each yacht has the resources and shore support it needs to operate safely. Captains report accidents, near misses and non-conformities to you. You investigate, track corrective actions and support the captain when an owner pushes for something unsafe.
Commercial yachts of 500gt and above under the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code need full ISM certification. That means a Document of Compliance for the company and a Safety Management Certificate for each yacht. Smaller charter yachts often run a lighter system, and some private owners opt in voluntarily. In summer you take incident calls from busy charter grounds in the Med and Caribbean. In winter you run internal audits, support yard periods and revise the SMS. Larger fleets split the work between deputies by region or flag.
Most DPAs are former captains or chief officers. Many hold a Master 3000gt, and nearly all have at least an OOW 3000gt. Management companies want someone who has run drills, been through a flag state survey and dealt with a real emergency, because captains only take advice from people who have done the job. A smaller group come from merchant navy superintendent roles or from quality and safety backgrounds. You need clear written English. Flag administrations, P&I clubs and insurers all read your audit reports and investigation findings.
Many people start as a deputy DPA or ISM coordinator while they make the move ashore. After a few years running a fleet's audits, the usual next steps are head of compliance, fleet manager or a director post in the management company. Some move on to flag administrations or classification societies as surveyors. In the early years the pay rarely matches what a 60m captain earns. Most people make the move for regular hours ashore and a settled home life.
Skills employers look for
- ISM Code and SMS design
- Internal and external auditing
- Incident investigation
- Flag state liaison
- Emergency response management
- MLC 2006 compliance
- Clear technical report writing
A working dayWednesday in a yacht management office, Antibes
Reads the overnight on-call log and emails. A 55m charter yacht off Corsica has reported a near miss between its tender and a swimmer.
Calls the captain to get the facts, then opens an investigation and asks for crew statements, tender logs and CCTV.
Finishes a revised enclosed space entry procedure and sends it to the fleet, asking each captain to confirm crew briefings.
Lunch near the port with the technical manager, talking through a yard period coming up in La Ciotat.
Prepares next week's internal ISM audit of a 70m yacht in Palma, checking last year's findings and the open corrective actions.
Video call with the flag administration to agree an extension for closing a minor non-conformity found at the last annual audit.
Reviews drill records, risk assessments and safety committee minutes from three yachts, and flags gaps for follow-up.
Leaves the office. The on-call phone stays switched on overnight.
Pay by experienceAnnual salary. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Shoreside salaries are taxed, unlike most crew pay. Many companies add an on-call allowance and a yearly bonus linked to fleet size and audit results. See the Yacht & Crew Management salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Qualifications
Must have
- ISM Designated Person Ashore course
- ISM internal auditor course
- Senior deck CoC or equivalent sea service (OOW 3000gt minimum)
Gets you hired
- MCA Master (Yachts) 3000gt or Master Unlimited
- Company Security Officer (CSO) course
- ISO 9001 / 14001 lead auditor
- Accident investigation training
- MLC 2006 inspection training
Where it leadsA typical career path
Yacht & Crew Management jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need to have been a captain?
Strictly, no. Most management companies still prefer a former captain or chief officer with a 3000gt ticket. Captains respond better to someone who has held command, and flag auditors expect the DPA to understand operations on board.
Is the DPA on call all the time?
The DPA role must be covered 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Most companies run a rota with deputies so that no single person carries the phone all the time. Expect night calls during the charter season.
What is the difference between a DPA and a CSO?
The DPA covers safety and pollution prevention under the ISM Code. The Company Security Officer covers security under the ISPS Code. In smaller yacht management companies the same person often holds both roles.
Do private yachts need a DPA?
Private yachts under 500gt usually do not need to comply with ISM. Many larger private yachts and nearly all commercial charter yachts over 500gt do, and some owners choose to run a full ISM system anyway for insurance and peace of mind.