Kate Kalamaga, founder and owner of Tropicalboat Luxury Yacht Charters & Rentals, said: “While rare, accidents in yachting can happen. Just recently, news broke that a super yacht off the coast of Greece, southeast of Ano Koufonisi, tragically caught fire and sank.
“Novis One was a 46m Gentech super yacht used for charter in the Mediterranean Sea, and this must have been an absolutely terrifying ordeal for the guests on board, and the crew too.
“News like this reiterates the importance of emergency, firefighter, and medical training for crew members but also for guests. Safety is the captain and crew’s prime responsibility and every guest that steps aboard must be given a mandatory safety briefing.
“A safety briefing will ensure all guests are aware of where to gather in case of an emergency, where all emergency exits, and life jackets are located and what sirens to expect.”
Here are some of my top tips for those travelling at sea, to ensure they keep themselves safe during emergency incidents:
#1 Prepare before your vacation.
It wouldn’t hurt for guests who have never been aboard a luxury charter yacht or are nervous at sea, to familiarize themselves with basic safety to understand any new language in the safety briefing.
For example, a muster point is a designated place aboard the yacht where guests must gather in the event of an emergency.
#2 Know your surroundings.
It is likely the yacht will be an unfamiliar place for guests, and it can be easy to get lost. Larger yachts can have four to six decks.
Guests might like to request a blueprint of the boat interior beforehand or request a full tour of the interiors with the captain to familiarize themselves with their surroundings.
#3 Get savvy with safety.
Guest cabins have life jackets and should be identified to guests in the safety briefing but knowing how to don a lifejacket effectively and quickly before stepping aboard is a great idea. This can be confusing and daunting in an emergency and quick donning is essential.
#4 Alert staff to danger.
Lastly, in the event of a man overboard (MOB), safety protocol is to point at the person in the sea, hold this position and keep a constant gaze on the MOB while calling for help. Any guest with prior knowledge of this will know what to do and could save a life by acting quickly.
Guests chartering a luxury yacht can be assured the captain and crew will always prioritize their safety, but there is never a downside in seeking safety training beforehand.”
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