Crew Familiarisation Package

Crew turnover in superyacht operations is among the highest of any maritime sector. New crew members frequently join a vessel in a foreign port, with a charter programme starting within hours, and must become familiar with the vessel’s systems, emergency arrangements, and operational procedures before they can be considered operationally ready. ISM Code Section 6 requires the company to ensure that each shipboard employee is given proper familiarisation with the vessel’s safety management system. STCW Code A-VI/1 establishes the basic safety training requirements that must be verified for all seafarers. Flag state surveyors and port state control officers inspect familiarisation records as a standard element of ISM audits and MLC inspections. This package gives you structured, department-specific familiarisation checklists that satisfy regulatory requirements and genuinely support safe crew integration.

Who Needs This

This package is designed for any superyacht operating under ISM Code or a flag state yacht code that experiences crew changes—which, in practice, means every commercial superyacht. The three department-specific checklists address the distinct familiarisation needs of engineering, deck, and interior crew members, each covering the systems, hazards, and emergency arrangements relevant to their department and role. The package is equally useful for vessels whose current familiarisation process consists of informal walkarounds, and for yachts that have received a flag state or PSC deficiency related to crew familiarisation records.

What’s Included

Engineering Familiarisation Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for new engineering crew covering: engine room layout, access, and escape routes; propulsion and steering systems; main and emergency generators; fuel, lubrication, and cooling systems; bilge and ballast systems; fixed firefighting systems and emergency shutdown procedures; electrical switchboard and emergency power arrangements; environmental systems (OWS, sewage treatment, incinerator); alarm and monitoring systems; and the vessel’s SMS procedures relevant to engineering operations. Includes competency verification sections and supervisor sign-off blocks.

Deck Familiarisation Checklist

A structured checklist for new deck officers and ratings covering: vessel layout and deck arrangements; lifesaving equipment locations and operation; bridge equipment familiarisation; GMDSS communications; anchoring and mooring arrangements; tender and water toy launch and recovery procedures; gangway rigging and safety; stability and loading guidance; fire detection and response equipment; and the SMS reporting procedures relevant to deck operations.

Interior Familiarisation Checklist

A checklist for new interior crew members covering: vessel layout and all access routes including crew areas; fire detection panel locations and alarm response; muster stations and emergency assignments; liferaft and lifejacket locations; emergency equipment stowage relevant to interior spaces; galley safety equipment including fire suppression and gas isolation; crew safety responsibilities during guest embarkation and disembarkation; and the SMS near-miss and incident reporting procedure.

Companion Guide

A practical guide explaining how to administer the familiarisation programme—how to use the checklists in a structured induction process, how to document completion in the vessel’s training records, how to handle crew members who require additional familiarisation time, and what records flag state surveyors and PSC officers will inspect.

Quick Reference Card

A laminate-ready card summarising the familiarisation requirements under ISM Code Section 6 and STCW A-VI/1, the record-keeping obligations, and the timeline within which familiarisation must be completed after a crew member joins.

Regulatory Compliance

This package satisfies ISM Code Section 6 crew familiarisation requirements and supports compliance with STCW Code A-VI/1 basic safety training verification. It is accepted by the Red Ensign Group, Marshall Islands, Malta, and Bahamas flag states, and meets the crew familiarisation inspection expectations of port state control officers under all major MOU regimes.

How to Use

1. Download all three checklist files and the companion guide immediately after purchase
2. Read the Companion Guide to understand the familiarisation programme structure
3. Assign each new crew member the appropriate department checklist on their first day
4. Conduct a structured walkthrough with the relevant head of department or senior crew member
5. Complete and sign off each section as familiarisation is achieved
6. File completed checklists in the vessel’s crew training records
7. Review completed checklists during the next internal SMS audit

Why Choose Our Template

These familiarisation checklists were developed by a Chief Engineer with extensive superyacht experience and direct knowledge of what flag state surveyors look for in crew familiarisation records. The engineering checklist in particular reflects the complexity of a large yacht’s engineering systems—it is not a generic maritime checklist adapted from commercial shipping. The department-specific structure means that interior crew are not overwhelmed with engineering content irrelevant to their role, and engineering crew are not given a deck-focused checklist that misses the systems they need to know. When ISM Code or STCW familiarisation requirements change, the package is updated and existing customers receive the revision at no additional cost.