Professional Yachting Association (PYA)

Representing professional yacht crew from over 90 countries, the PYA acts as a global advocacy body dedicated to supporting crew who live and work on board. The organisation focuses on promoting higher standards of qualification, safety, and operational knowledge across the superyacht sector.

A core function of PYA involves sea time verification. Authorized directly by the UK MCA, PYA validates logged sea service using its official Service Record Book, giving crew members a recognized record necessary for career progression and certificate upgrades.

Beyond administrative validation, PYA actively represents crew interests before national and international regulatory authorities. Association representatives regularly attend policy meetings with administrators to help shape superyacht regulations around the practical needs of working crew.

Daily operations and advocacy efforts are guided by a council of 30 volunteer members with extensive experience across all yacht departments. Alongside policy work, PYA delivers one-on-one advice and personal support to individual crew members navigating career paths or regulatory requirements.