Yacht Management

Noblesse Yachts^® delivers a bespoke yacht management service designed to safeguard your investment and maximise your enjoyment. We oversee every operational and technical aspect – including scheduled and preventive maintenance, repairs, safety compliance and certification management, berth arrangements, charter coordination, guest services, and the recruitment and deployment of crew.

We also handle the administration of certain costs – such as insurance, home port and berth fees, seasonal storage, scheduled inspections, crew salaries, and consumables – even though these remain the financial responsibility of the owner. During charters, consumable costs are covered by the guests through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA).

Yes. Our yacht management services are modular and can be tailored to your exact needs. Whether you require dedicated crew management, purely technical oversight, or full financial administration and accounting, we adjust the scope of service precisely to your requirements – always maintaining the trusted quality for which we are known.

It’s not the size or style of your yacht that matters most, but your vision as an owner. Over the years, we have developed and refined a management plan that can be adapted to any vessel. Tell us what yacht you own and what you wish to achieve, and we will create a management concept tailored precisely to your requirements.

We follow a structured maintenance and inspection schedule that covers every onboard system – from engines and electronics to safety equipment and guest amenities. Regular inventory checks ensure that all technical gear and comforts are complete and in working order. Preventive maintenance, carried out in line with manufacturer intervals and engine hours, minimises the risk of unforeseen issues and keeps your yacht ready to sail at a moment’s notice.

We coordinate and oversee all repair work – from minor repairs to major shipyard refits – ensuring every step is handled with precision. For substantial projects, we obtain multiple quotes to secure the optimal balance of cost and quality, and only proceed beyond an agreed budget with your authorisation.

All work is comprehensively documented, giving you full transparency over everything carried out on your yacht. If unexpected issues arise, we respond immediately to minimise downtime. Through our partnership with SeaHelp, you benefit from 24/7 technical support across Europe, ensuring rapid, on-site assistance whenever needed.

Working closely with the captain, we manage all berth and route planning – from securing the home port to organising every stopover during a voyage or charter.

We liaise directly with harbour authorities and marinas to secure prime berthing locations, ensuring that all local regulations and permits are fully in order. This meticulous approach creates a seamless, worry-free experience, allowing you and your guests to devote your time entirely to the enjoyment of yachting.

We ensure your yacht consistently meets the requirements of these and other relevant regulations at all times. Here is a brief explanation of the terms:
• SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) – An international convention setting minimum safety standards for ships and their equipment.
• ISM (International Safety Management Code) – Establishes requirements for the safe management and operation of ships.
• ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) – Defines security measures to protect ships and port facilities.

We create a tailored maintenance plan for each yacht, aligned with manufacturer recommendations and the vessel’s actual operating hours. This covers the inspection and upkeep of engines, propulsion systems, electronics, navigation equipment, climate control, water supply, and all safety systems.

All scheduled work and projected costs are detailed in an annual maintenance and budget plan, giving you clear foresight of most expenses well in advance. This proactive approach keeps your yacht in peak condition and helps prevent unexpected breakdowns.

We carry out regular safety inspections, covering all critical systems – from fire protection and life-saving equipment to first-aid supplies and alarm systems.

We also track the expiry dates of all required certificates and permits, including those under international regulations such as SOLAS, ISM, and ISPS. Any necessary inspections or audits are planned well in advance, coordinated with the relevant authorities, and overseen through to successful renewal. This ensures your yacht remains fully compliant and ready for operation at all times.

Yes – if you appoint us, we handle the entire recruitment and placement process for qualified crew – from experienced skippers to attentive stewardesses. Our selection criteria focus on technical proficiency, exceptional guest service, proven experience with discerning clientele, and the validity of all required licences and certifications.

Depending on your yacht’s operational profile, we can in some cases offer flexible arrangements: seasonal contracts for defined periods, permanent crew for year-round service, or hybrid solutions where a core team is reinforced with additional staff during peak season. The goal is always to create a crew structure that aligns perfectly with your yacht’s requirements, operational demands, and your personal preferences.

Yacht crew costs depend on the vessel’s size, cruising schedule, contract type, operating region, and market demand. Areas with higher living expenses or stricter maritime regulations tend to have higher salaries and related charges. Seasonal or short-term contracts can, in some cases, be more expensive than year-round employment. (when calculated on a monthly basis)

Beyond salaries, you should also factor in social contributions, insurance, and, where necessary, crew accommodation. Freelance crew hired for specific charters are usually paid at prevailing daily rates. We work closely with you to prepare an accurate budget and ensure every cost is transparent, properly documented, and settled on time.

We place great importance on ensuring your yacht’s crew excel both technically and in delivering exceptional service. From the very start, our yacht crew recruitment process prioritises relevant experience, a customer-focused mindset, and a polished professional demeanour.

As part of our yacht crew management service, we arrange regular training sessions, onboard briefings, and safety drills, all tailored to your yacht’s unique requirements and cruising profile. Continuous feedback from you and your guests allows us to fine-tune performance, ensuring every aspect of service on board consistently meets the high standards expected on a luxury yacht.

The annual yacht operating costs depend on several factors, including the vessel’s size, age, design, level of equipment, cruising area, and whether it is privately owned or operates as a charter yacht. As a general guideline, yacht owners should budget around 8–12% of the purchase price per year.

Typical annual yacht expenses include crew salaries, insurance premiums, berth fees, routine maintenance, repairs, surveys, fuel, consumables, safety compliance, and winter storage. Charter yacht costs may also involve additional spending on guest services, marketing, and higher wear and tear.

By applying careful yacht budget planning and proactive cost management, owners can ensure their vessel stays in peak condition, avoid cashflow issues, and maintain the desired enjoyment or charter performance year after year.

For each yacht under our care, we maintain a dedicated bank account used solely for that vessel, ensuring precise and transparent yacht financial management.
All transactions – from charter income to routine operating expenses – are processed through this account, ensuring precise yacht financial management.
As the owner, you have unrestricted, real-time online access to up-to-date statements, with every transaction fully documented to give you a clear, accurate picture of your yacht’s financial performance and running costs at any time.

We provide monthly financial reports detailing all income, expenses, and the current balance of your yacht’s dedicated account. At the close of each financial year, you will also receive a comprehensive annual statement reviewing the yacht’s overall financial performance.

This statement can be shared directly with your tax or legal advisor, making it easy to support further analysis or meet any jurisdiction-specific tax requirements.

All charter income is first deposited into the dedicated account set up for your yacht. From there, we deduct the agreed management fees, any broker commissions, and all operating costs incurred during the accounting period.

The remaining surplus –after maintaining the agreed minimum balance – is then transferred to you. You may also choose to keep these funds in the yacht account to cover upcoming expenses or future investments.

Every payout is accompanied by a detailed financial statement, providing complete transparency over how your charter revenue is managed.

Keeping a minimum balance provides a financial buffer to cover ongoing obligations and urgent expenses without delay. These may include berth fees, insurance premiums, scheduled maintenance, crew salaries, travel related to the yacht, Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) prepayments, and unforeseen repairs.

Maintaining this reserve helps ensure your yacht remains fully operational between charters, avoiding any disruption caused by insufficient funds. The exact amount is determined in consultation with you and tailored to your yacht’s operational profile and projected running costs.

We continuously monitor the validity of all certificates and documentation required for the safe and legal operation of your yacht. This covers essential yacht compliance standards such as SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), ISM (International Safety Management Code), and ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code), as well as any additional permits or authorisations relevant to your yacht’s flag state and cruising area, such as a valid class certificate issued by a classification society. For more details, see our section “What are classification societies and what role do they play?”

Renewals and updates are managed proactively: we prepare the documentation well in advance, liaise with the appropriate authorities, and oversee the entire process through to completion. In this way, your yacht remains fully compliant with international regulations and certification requirements at all times.
A brief explanation of these terms can be found in our section “Maintenance and Technical Support.”

Classification societies are independent organisations that set and monitor technical standards for yachts and ships, ensuring safe construction, reliable maintenance, and compliant operation. Well-known examples include Lloyd’s Register (UK), Bureau Veritas (France), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and DNV (Norway/Germany).

Their primary role in yacht classification and certification is to safeguard a vessel’s structural integrity, safety equipment, and overall seaworthiness through regular inspections and mandatory surveys. If a yacht meets the required standards, the society issues a class certificate – for example, Lloyd’s Register 100A1 or Bureau Veritas ✠ HULL ✠ MACH. Such certification is often essential for flag state approval, yacht insurance, financing, and commercial charter operations, as it proves compliance with internationally recognised yacht safety regulations.

We manage the entire process on your behalf: liaising with the relevant classification society, coordinating inspections, and overseeing the implementation of any recommendations – ensuring your yacht always remains in class, certified, and fully compliant.

The scope of yacht documentation depends on the areas of yacht management you entrust to us – whether full yacht management or specific aspects such as crew management or charter management.
Typically, we maintain records in four key areas:

• Financial records – monthly yacht financial reports, account statements, and annual summaries for complete transparency.
• Technical logs – maintenance schedules, service reports, inspection records, and warranty documentation to ensure smooth yacht operations.
• Regulatory files – valid certificates, classification society documents, crew licences, and safety compliance records.
• Operational documents – voyage logs, berth confirmations, insurance policies, and APA statements.

All yacht management records are structured and, if desired, made available digitally. This ensures you always have transparent, up-to-date insight into your yacht’s performance, compliance, and operations – in exactly the areas of management you have delegated to us.

The home port is defined in close consultation with you as the yacht owner, considering factors such as operating costs, tax implications, regulatory requirements, maintenance facilities, logistical convenience, charter strategy, and personal preferences.

For all additional transit or charter berths, we handle the planning and reservations together with the captain – both in the yacht’s home cruising grounds and along scheduled itineraries. By liaising directly with marinas and harbour authorities, we ensure smooth yacht logistics and secure the most suitable berthing arrangements.

We oversee the entire yacht check-in service together with the captain and crew, ensuring your vessel is presented in immaculate, guest-ready condition upon arrival. This includes detailed cleaning, fresh linens, full provisioning, and thorough system checks so that everything is ready for a seamless luxury yacht charter experience.

During the charter check-out process, we carry out a full damage inspection. Where necessary, we immediately manage communication and settlement with the responsible party – in the case of charter guests, provided negligence or intent is confirmed – and coordinate any required yacht maintenance or repairs. When time is limited, work is scheduled for the next planned shipyard visit. Afterward, the yacht undergoes a complete charter turnaround, including deep cleaning, laundry replacement, and restocking of consumables, ensuring it is swiftly ready for the next voyage.

Your yacht is promoted through a strategy that combines global exposure with targeted visibility. We showcase it on leading international luxury yacht charter platforms and collaborate with a trusted network of experienced charter brokers and partner agencies. This is further strengthened by bespoke marketing initiatives and direct promotion, designed to maximise visibility within your target audience.

All enquiries and bookings are managed through an integrated yacht availability management system, continuously synchronised with platforms and partners in real time. This ensures up-to-date availability at all times and eliminates the risk of double bookings.

The Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) is designed for charter guests and covers all variable yacht charter expenses during their voyage. Typical costs include fuel, marina and port fees, food and beverages, communication services, and personalised guest activities. The APA is generally set at about 30% of the charter fee and is usually handed to the captain in cash before departure.

All expenditures are meticulously recorded and supported with receipts by the captain. At the end of the charter, a detailed APA accounting statement is provided: any unused funds are immediately refunded to the guest, while any excess costs beyond the deposit are clearly invoiced.

Our monthly yacht management fees cover the essential administrative and organisational services required for the smooth operation of your vessel. This includes day-to-day communication with you as the owner, guests, and brokers, the coordination of itineraries and bookings, crew liaison, maintenance scheduling, and continuous oversight of onboard and shore-side operations. The exact fee structure and scope of yacht management services are clearly defined in the management agreement, giving you full cost transparency and a clear understanding of what is included.

Our marketing and booking fees cover the full spectrum of activities needed to maximise your yacht’s charter potential. This includes presenting your yacht on our own website, maintaining and updating listings on leading international charter platforms, running targeted digital marketing campaigns, coordinating with established charter brokers, and managing every booking enquiry from start to finish.

The fees also incorporate the standard commissions of major platforms and partner agencies, giving you a clear and transparent cost structure without hidden charges. In this way, your yacht benefits from professional promotion, global exposure, and seamless booking management at predictable costs.

Smaller items of yacht maintenance or minor repairs are passed on to you strictly at cost, with no added mark-up. In other words, whatever the service provider charges us is charged 1:1 to the yacht account. This is generally the case for minor works falling below your authorisation threshold – for example, replacing a broken dish.

For mid-level yacht repair works requiring more organisation and coordination, we apply a moderate administrative fee based on a fixed percentage of the repair costs. In the case of larger refit projects or extensive shipyard periods, where competitive quotations, on-site supervision, and final quality approvals are necessary, a higher percentage is applied.

This structure ensures you only incur additional management costs when there is a genuine need for significant oversight and coordination, keeping overall yacht operating costs fair and transparent.