Ask a Russian Oligarch's Superyacht crew anything...
Discussion
Macroni18 said:
Can you just resign and leave whenever you wish? Are there any clauses re secrecy in your contracts?
If someone fails to adhere to rules/secrecy etc. is there a chance of them disappearing forever?
Normally 4-weeks notice period. We have to sign various NDAs etc and have a strict social media policy. I guess you could do something to piss the owner off enough that they would do something about it, but in reality, no. Nobody has ever been 'disappeared' or anything like that, and most crew respect their contractual obligations enough that it wouldn't be a problem.If someone fails to adhere to rules/secrecy etc. is there a chance of them disappearing forever?
Divulging some evidence of overtly criminal activity which led to their downfall might be risky, but you could say the same about many yacht owners, regardless of nationality. We are not privy to that kind of information anyway, a lot of crew wont even know the name of the owner, let alone personal details about business interests etc. Besides, they are just here on holiday, not planning their world domination.
Tyre Smoke said:
How big is the yacht you're on? Does it have a helipad? Typically when not 'entertaining' how many permanent crew? And how much does that increase by when the gaffer and his entourage turn up? How much notice do they give you?
I understand if you need to be a bit vague with some of those answers.
Pretty big, but far from the biggest. Yes, regular heli operations from our own pad. Around 30-40 ish crew on the books, same year-round regardless of guest use, though lower through the winter when non-rotation crew take leave. We will get notice of expected guest use (i.e. we know they aren't going to turn up tomorrow) as a very rough plan for the year. During the summer we will be 90% guest ready the whole season, and expect 24-48 hours notice of intended guest use to finish off the final 10%. I understand if you need to be a bit vague with some of those answers.
Once you've had the same owner for a few years you get a feel for when they will be using the boat. During the off-season it would take us several weeks to get back to a state in which we would be happy receiving guests. Charter boats tend to have more of a plan as the contracts are often signed well ahead of time (and you know when they will leave). Private boats like us can be less predictable, you might know when they are arriving, but often we don't know whether they will stay for a weekend, a week or a month.
DanL said:
Given that I assume the boat isn’t left to get covered in crap when a guest isn’t on board, this is amazing to me. Is it “just” that the expected standard is amazingly high, or that these boats really do take constant polishing, etc. to be kept looking good?
Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Quite often there will be scaffolding in place, plus the associated protection. The interior will have all carpets covered and soft furnishings covered or removed for cleaning. Areas will be maintained, but the detailing of each room can take days, which adds up to weeks. Deck furniture is off-loaded for varnishing/oiling as appropriate. Stainless is covered with a plasti-dip coating to protect it which obviously takes time to remove, and then everything must be polished. The teak decks will be regularly washed through the down time, but will still need a pre-season sand and chemical treatment, which is at least a day per deck (again, well over a weeks worth of work total). Engine room may well have major equipment stripped for maintenance. This combined with the very high standards expected and you can see it is not a case of just running round with the hoover and heading off to pick up the boss.Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
eldar said:
justaninnocenthenchman said:
DanL said:
Given that I assume the boat isn’t left to get covered in crap when a guest isn’t on board, this is amazing to me. Is it “just” that the expected standard is amazingly high, or that these boats really do take constant polishing, etc. to be kept looking good?
Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Quite often there will be scaffolding in place, plus the associated protection. The interior will have all carpets covered and soft furnishings covered or removed for cleaning. Areas will be maintained, but the detailing of each room can take days, which adds up to weeks. Deck furniture is off-loaded for varnishing/oiling as appropriate. Stainless is covered with a plasti-dip coating to protect it which obviously takes time to remove, and then everything must be polished. The teak decks will be regularly washed through the down time, but will still need a pre-season sand and chemical treatment, which is at least a day per deck (again, well over a weeks worth of work total). Engine room may well have major equipment stripped for maintenance. This combined with the very high standards expected and you can see it is not a case of just running round with the hoover and heading off to pick up the boss.Could you give us an idea of what work has to be done that takes a few weeks to complete?
Depreciation, who knows, you can't really get an idea from webuyanyboat.com.
Must be easier just to hire one when you want it?
Depreciation is an interesting one. Like high-end cars, if you can afford to run one, you can afford to buy a new one. The Superyacht industry has exploded in the last 20 or so years, and there are some older vessels on their second, or third or more owner. Believe it or not, just like new Porsches, people buy shipyard build slots with no intention of ever taking delivery, then selling their place in the queue as the waiting times can be so long. If you suddenly found yourself in a position to be buying then like many cars you'd be buying used or waiting a long time. Fortunately the number of billionaires has also exploded in the last 20 years with more and more buyers from 'developing' nations. Trickle-down economics in action for us.
People use the 10% of the purchase cost, (just like the old £1M per metre rule) when discussing costs. These can be useful guides, but are based more on smaller vessels. Our non-operational winter works can cost millions. Total annual cost comfortably into the tens of millions, but it obviously depends on use, vessel movements, and which big projects/refits are going on that year. Some interior designers will charge thousands of EUR per square metre, so for a large salon the designer costs will be into the millions before you even buy the stuff they are recommending.
bristolracer said:
Does your Yacht have a Russian design feel to it?
In the days when I used to do some work in high end houses in London, you could have a guess at the owners nationality by the taste (or lack of!) of the decor.
I think if I walked you around this boat you'd struggle. There is little dark wood, no Swarovski-covered antlers, no solid gold swan taps.In the days when I used to do some work in high end houses in London, you could have a guess at the owners nationality by the taste (or lack of!) of the decor.
Whatsmyname said:
Seeming as the hierarchy is
Putin - boat owner - yourself
Are you bothered?
There are a couple of intermediate steps but ok.Putin - boat owner - yourself
Are you bothered?
Bothered how? Worried about Ukraine? Happy about the invasion? Concerned about my job?
Nobody is supporting the war. Our boss is not 'politically involved'. Is there some concern about the industry? Perhaps. My job personally? No, I don't think so.
Whatsmyname said:
Yeah should have been a bit clearer apologies
Say how relatives friends view what you’re doing, like how the media is going to sway their thinking.
And are you looking at jumping ship?
No, I'm not going anywhere. Some concern from parents and wife about job security naturally, especially with headline news about boat seizures. Not many of my friends outside the industry would know which boat I'm on anyway.Say how relatives friends view what you’re doing, like how the media is going to sway their thinking.
And are you looking at jumping ship?
I know Russia has been crossed off everyone's Christmas list lately, but this will probably be over in a matter of weeks. A few slapped wrists and then business as usual.
Personally I have no issues with what I do or the guy I work for. Seems odd to demonise an entire nation but I understand why it is happening, and the harder we hit them, the faster a regime change will come. In theory anyway.
Slowboathome said:
justaninnocenthenchman said:
I know Russia has been crossed off everyone's Christmas list lately, but this will probably be over in a matter of weeks. A few slapped wrists and then business as usual.
I don't want to steer this (excellent) thread off topic, but I'm curious about why you think this? Because of your position do you have insights that aren't expressed in the mainstream media?Mainstream media regularly get things wrong, pick any story which you know better than the media - I can think of one in the last few days which is completely wrong and was reported globally - and then extrapolate that to all the other news stories. How much of it is really true? As log as they are getting hits on their pages then they'll keep printing things which they either don't know, or don't care are false. Rant over and off topic (ish) anyway.
Slowboathome said:
justaninnocenthenchman said:
Agreed - no insight other than life experience, and knowing how much post cold war Russians are enjoying their capitalism and freedoms. Take those away as we have been doing and the people who can, will change this. IMHO anyway.
Thanks. Fingers crossed it's over some soon.Back on topic, do you ever get tension or personality clashes between crew members? How do these get resolved?
PushedDover said:
I assume a voyage through the Suez and Red Sea?
Interesting on 'anti-Piracy' stuff at the bottom? How does that work ? an armed convey etc
It is a lot quieter these days regarding piracy, but usually contracted security on board and any non-essential (in an operational sense) crew take a few days off and fly out ahead of the boat.Interesting on 'anti-Piracy' stuff at the bottom? How does that work ? an armed convey etc
Tyre Smoke said:
What's the absolute, wringing it's neck, Chief Engineer having a breakdown, fastest you can get on a flat calm sea? And how much fuel is it using at that speed?
And conversely, what is normal cruising speed for maximum comfort?
We will get low 20's flat stick, burning almost 3,000 litres per hour at that point. Normal cruising 12-14 kts, which is closer to 1000 lph.And conversely, what is normal cruising speed for maximum comfort?
steveo3002 said:
what meals does the crew get
Depends on the chef. Usually we are fed very well. Sometimes too well. Our daily crew food budget is around 20 EUR per head (Royal Navy is £3 ish and cruise lines about $10 for guests as a comparison) and all meals/snacks/toiletries etc all provided as part of the package.A good chef is always trying to impress. A great chef is making what people actually want.
MrJuice said:
Are there lots of super yacht food supply companies or just a handful?
My friend owns reach food service and super yacht supplies. I know he's doing great business but never asked him if there's much competition.
I can think of half a dozen or so. We usually use local suppliers rather than buying everything in one place.My friend owns reach food service and super yacht supplies. I know he's doing great business but never asked him if there's much competition.
pete_esp said:
What do you think will happen to the seized super yachts?
Assuming they get sold to a new owner, would the new owner need to worry about finding his yacht had been re-acquired by the previous owner?
I'm sure they will be returned to their owners once this mess is sorted, after all, who are they going to sell them to? I would put money on a few name changes though. They won't fool anyone in the know, but will at least stop the casual observers from making links which may or may not be correct.Assuming they get sold to a new owner, would the new owner need to worry about finding his yacht had been re-acquired by the previous owner?
Muzzer79 said:
Have you ever had a guest on board who you felt uncomfortable in their presence?
i.e blatant gangster/criminal/nutcase
No, not in a criminal sense. Certainly people who, while displaying gentlemanly behaviour on board, are not the types you would want to cross, but never felt threatened in a personal way. Sometimes speaking truth to power can be difficult but avoidance of waffle is effective in delivering bad news to the owners.i.e blatant gangster/criminal/nutcase
The worst types to deal with are celebrities on as a guest of the owner (doesn't happen much with Russian yachts IME), they don't have the money to own one, yet still act like they do. We have forcibly ejected a couple over the years, which usually leads to more factually inaccurate stories in the gutter press about a 'break up' or something.
ayedubya said:
When the owner is away do you get to sleep in the guest suites and hang out in the jacuzzi and pretend its all yours sometimes?
when it's off season, or in between family visits to the yacht how much 'down time' is there for the crew when they're just sunning about waiting for news of the next visit?
interesting thread this thanks op
Smaller boats do that. We would put crew ashore in hotels if there weren't the bunks available. A lot depends on the owner. On previous boats I've spent plenty of time popping corks in Jacuzzis, but it's not really the done thing where we are now.when it's off season, or in between family visits to the yacht how much 'down time' is there for the crew when they're just sunning about waiting for news of the next visit?
interesting thread this thanks op
There is downtime, but it varies. A lot of the junior crew get into the industry for the travel and parties and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You have to let them enjoy it otherwise no one would stick around.
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