Major rise in yacht crew welfare concerns flagged in new review
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) has released its Welfare of Yacht Crew 2024 Annual Review, highlighting an increase in serious and complex issues raised by crew — including bullying and violence — over the past year.
The report presents findings from YachtCrewHelp, ISWAN’s free, multilingual helpline, and compares them with data from SeafarerHelp, the organisation’s established helpline for the wider maritime sector. It also includes guidance for crew and industry stakeholders, and outlines current initiatives supporting crew welfare.
Data from 2024 a 21.4 per cent year-on-year rise in calls and messages to YachtCrewHelp relating to abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence (ABHDV). The organisation notes that these types of issues can naturally be intensified in the yachting environment, where crew live and work in close quarters for extended periods without their usual support networks. In its report, ISWAN observes how the dual role of the yacht as both a workplace and living space can contribute to a sense of entrapment for those experiencing harm.
Mental health concerns remained a common reason for contacting the helpline, with stress and worry or concern among the most frequently cited issues. According to ISWAN, some crew are reluctant to share personal information due to fears about professional repercussions, reputational damage or breaches of non-disclosure agreements. This hesitancy can make it more difficult for crew to seek help or speak openly about what they are experiencing.
ISWAN reports that 80 per cent of YachtCrewHelp contacts related to ABHDV in 2024 came from women. Women accounted for 50 per cent of known-gender contacts to the helpline, representing the highest proportion since its 2020 launch. While both men and women contacted the helpline about bullying and harassment, ISWAN found that women were also more likely to report sexual harassment, violence and physical abuse.
Employment concerns were the most common category overall, representing nearly one-third of all new cases. Enquiries ranged from wage disputes and unfair dismissal to issues concerning employment agreements, working hours, repatriation, and leave entitlements. ISWAN states that many crew members lack adequate information about their employment rights and the appropriate steps to take when those rights are violated.
Georgia Allen, ISWAN’s projects and relationships manager, says: “For the 2024 review, we took a deeper dive into the issues reported to us by yacht crew and their families through YachtCrewHelp, so this annual review provides a closer look at the problems to be tackled, how ISWAN is addressing them in partnership with the industry, and what actions both crew and other industry stakeholders can take.
“This holistic approach is what also drives our Welfare of Yacht Crew Project – by better understanding the challenges yacht crew and their families are facing, we can ensure they have the support and resources they need to respond, and ISWAN can drive crew-centred change across the yachting industry. However, lasting impact requires collective effort. We urge those committed to a safer, fairer and more inclusive industry to join forces with us and help turn shared values into meaningful action.”
The report comes just weeks after 20-year-old South African stewardess Paige Bell was found dead aboard Far From It, a 43-metre Richmond yacht moored at Harbour Island in the Bahamas, on 3 July 2025. A fellow crew member, reportedly aged 40, was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with murder. The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has confirmed that a homicide investigation is in progress.
In a statement issued alongside the report, ISWAN calls for a proactive response from the yachting industry to address the root causes of these challenges. It recommends preventative action and the provision of appropriate support for crew.
One initiative contributing to these efforts is the Changing Tack on Yacht Crew Welfare Working Group (CTWG), which ISWAN chairs. Initially formed by The Seafarers’ Charity and the UK Sailing Academy (UKSA), the group now includes Nautilus International and CHIRP Maritime as core members. CTWG plans to announce a new partnership shortly and will invite broader industry participation to expand its work.
The Welfare of Yacht Crew 2024 Annual Review is available for download.
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