For Family Offices that are busy managing the complexities of international businesses, properties, families, and constantly changing schedules, adding a yacht to the mix can consume an excessive amount of precious time.

Camper & Nicholsons seek to alleviate this one element of complexity, by providing a sole point of contact for every aspect of yacht ownership.  So that despite its significant value, this asset becomes just one small part of the Office’s responsibilities. 

Whether a yacht is used privately or chartered out commercially, the yacht’s movement, finances and operational aspects are akin to running a business. 

Camper & Nicholsons work in tandem with Family Offices to alleviate the yacht’s management from their workload, whilst providing the high level of oversight and control of the yacht’s financial administration, and security, that the Office team need to be aware of.  We support clients in all aspects of yacht ownership, from day-to-day operational management to refit periods, crewing, and provisioning.

When the time comes to buy, charter, or sell a superyacht, our independent and expert advice is relied upon by our clients and their Office teams all around the world.

 

Yacht Ownership

Forming a Company, Partnership, or other corporate entity to own and operate a yacht provides protection for the owner and several other benefits, such as access to flag states that may not be available to the individual, mitigated risk and liability, Beneficial Owner discretion, and VAT registration and compliance.

We work with several international partners to ensure ownership structures are strategic, economical, and comply with regulatory obligations. We work alongside an owner’s legal and fiduciary teams to align or distinguish the yacht with other corporate entities, as required.  

Family offices can find the complex administration unique to yachting, such as: flag state relationship, charter accounting, crew payroll, crew employment contracts, maintenance and technical compliance a challenge. It takes specific expertise. Camper & Nicholsons is an ultra-specialised partner who you can entrust to carry out these services.

Family offices can then focus on their main objective: to protect the asset value, make sure that their Principals are happy, and can use the asset whenever they want (unhindered by technical/admin problems).

 

Yacht management

Camper & Nicholsons has one of the largest managed fleets in the world.

Whether you own a 20-metre sailing yacht or a 140-metre megayacht, our Yacht Management services are specifically tailored to meet your requirements.

Camper & Nicholsons has provided yacht operational support since 1988, enabling us to acquire an unparalleled depth of experience in this specialist area.

Our expertise and knowledge encompass all aspects of Yacht Management, including the application and thorough understanding of codes of practice, rules and regulations, technical expertise, administration, commercial compliance, and the more subjective factors of yachting.

Our Yacht Management team includes master mariners, engineers, purchasing staff, accountants, and crew managers, who provide the highest level of support and guidance to owners, captains, and crew.

In addition, Camper & Nicholsons has developed a fully proprietary software for yacht accounting and reporting, enabling us to better serve our clients and protect their sensitive data. Realtime data, accounting intelligence and reporting is at the Owner and Captain’s fingertips, in an entirely transparent fashion and accessible at all times.

An interactive private area provides owners with an immediate overview of their yacht accounts, budget and yacht performance versus budget, and whether there is room for further optimisation.

 

Crew management

Crew employment and administration can be complex. Camper & Nicholsons alleviates this issue for Family Offices by taking care of crew employment and payroll, as well as crew placement and recruitment. We can advise on the best structure, social security requirements and optimisation of liabilities.

Camper & Nicholsons Crew Placement Services provides professional crew for its fleet of managed yachts, but it doesn’t stop there. We work with captains and owners, for privately owned or chartered yachts anywhere in the world, and endeavour to find the best matching crew to the personalities of the end users.

Whether they are serving a cocktail, raising the sails, researching the next anchorage, or making guests feel at ease, the crew of a yacht are the backbone and spirit of any successful itinerary. Camper & Nicholsons Crew Placement Services has vast industry contacts and owners know that with our comprehensive database of crew members, our agents are some of the most connected and well informed in the business. We are their first port-of-call for any crew enquiries.

 

Charter Marketing

Camper & Nicholsons’ Charter Marketing Division has the knowledge, expertise, and resources to make your yacht stand out from the crowd, enabling you to sit back, relax and reap the financial benefits.

A yacht can generate a significant income through its charter operations. Successful charter marketing is a complex business and requires a well-connected and experienced team. Camper & Nicholsons’ Charter Marketing department is expertly placed to provide this vital link between the retail charter team, the yacht owner, their representative, and the captain. By dedicating one manager for each yacht, Camper & Nicholsons commits to maintaining close relationships and effective communication. Furthermore, our Charter Marketing Division has direct access to an extensive network of leading charter agents worldwide, maximising the potential business of your yacht.

 

Sales Marketing

A timely yacht sale at the right price requires a combination of knowledge, experience, and the ability to negotiate at the highest level. Camper & Nicholsons brokers possess these skills in abundance.  Our brokers’ average number of years in the industry is 20+, and some brokers have even 50+ years of experience. For the past 3 years, Camper & Nicholsons’ market share represented approx. 14.5% of yacht sales for vessels in excess of 50 metres, versus a 7% average for top 10 competitors.

In our experience, the best approach is to appoint a Sole or Central Agent to handle all aspects of the sale. As your Central Agents, Camper & Nicholsons will circulate full details of the yacht to our global network of brokerage companies. They, in turn, propose the yacht to their prospective purchasers. Throughout this process, all enquiries, requests for information and offers are channelled through Camper & Nicholsons. This ensures wide marketing of the yacht whilst maintaining control of the manner in which it is executed, and the accuracy. Our proactive modus operandi is designed to ensure comprehensive marketing to suitable target individuals and companies, leveraging the largest database in the industry, built up over 240 years of history.?

Firstly, we prepare a detailed, visual, and informative package on the yacht, based on the information we obtain from the captain and crew, and from our personal visits. This package will highlight all aspects of the yacht’s equipment and performance.

Next, we contact potential clients from our extensive database of previous owners, charterers, and prospective purchasers, as well as current owners and clients who are looking to trade. We will also circulate the yacht’s details to hand-picked co-operating brokers.

We engage in extensive advertising with the yachting press, other appropriate publications and our own in-house lifestyle magazine, Sea & I. We will assist with co-ordinating boat show exhibition and events and will work with strategic partners around the world to promote your yacht to the right target audience.

Our website is fast becoming our greatest marketing tool, enabling clients to access full specifications, yacht pictures and videos, on-line brochures and all the information they require. Our leading digital strategy extends to active social media channels, search engine marketing, and much more. These marketing and commercial formulas are discussed in detail, in dedicated in-person meetings between patrons and their dedicated brokers and managers.

 

Superyacht Insurance

Camper & Nicholsons provides insurance for you that is as bespoke as your yacht. We protect you from stormy seas and unforeseen events.

Our comprehensive in-house insurance service provides access the insurance markets from a wide range of maritime underwriters in all the major marine insurance markets. Our experienced insurance team can advise on the best policies and source competitive quotes, as well as help you in the event of a claim. In addition to marine cover, we also provide insurance solutions for private jets, helicopters, luxury properties, fine art collections and high-end medical cover.

All at competitive prices due to the high value of total assets insured by us.

 

Yacht Berthing

Whether you seek a secluded paradise in the Indian Ocean or the bustling glamour of the Mediterranean and Caribbean hot spots, our team are first in the know when it comes to berth availability.  

Berths are available for all yacht lengths and Camper & Nicholsons has access to exclusive off market opportunities in locations all around the world. Finding a berth for a superyacht more than 125m can be particularly hard, as marina space for vessels of this size and stature is limited. In the Mediterranean, Porto Montenegro tops the list for the greatest length catered for, with a berth that can accommodate a yacht up to 250m in length. One Ocean Port Vell in Barcelona and Port Vauban in Antibes, however, have a greater number of berths able to accommodate yachts between 125m and 165m.

When considering your berth choices, local marina support and infrastructure, security, and proximity to your desired cruising location are key factors.