Typical contract with captain

• Steer and operate vessel.
• Direct and coordinate crew members or workers.
• Inspect the vessel to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment, and conformance to regulations.
• Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions etc
• Arrange for the yacht to be fueled, restocked with supplies, and/or repaired.
• Assign watches and living quarters to crew members.
• Interview and hire crew members if needed. He is to ensure Training record books are kept current and all crew receive all required training.
• Maintain boats and equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, and life preservers.
• Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
• Purchase supplies and equipment, when required.
• Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, and oxygen.
• Resolve questions or problems with customs officials.
• Sort and form logs.
• The Captain has overall responsibility to the Owner for the safety, day to day running and financial management of the vessel, which includes her crew, equipment and any other issues related to the yacht.
• The Master should carefully and thoroughly inspect the entire Yacht weekly. The inspections should be logged. Particular attention should be paid to identifying potential hazards, and checking the maintenance and status of safety equipment.
• The safety of personnel, the Yacht and the environment are foremost. Safe working conditions and operating practices must be established on board. The safety equipment provided must be used, including the use of properly adjusted safety harnesses when working aloft or outboard.
• The Yacht must at all times be operated in compliance with all applicable local and international regulations.
• The cleanliness, appearance and running of all the yacht and her crew.
• Ensuring that all routines and disciplines described herein and any additional ones promulgated by the owner are adhered to.
• Ensuring that before the vessel goes to sea she is correctly prepared.
• Purchasing all paints, cleaning materials and other deck supplies and accounting for these.
• Ensuring that the appropriate flags are displayed as and when convention demands.
• The Captain is in charge of the maintenance and servicing of all the yacht equipment onboard and keeping all records up to date.
• The Captain must ensure that all navigation information is correct and up to date.
• The Captain is responsible for the running, maintenance and repair of all mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment, all machinery in the engine room, all domestic equipment, the operation of the onboard communications systems and computers etc.
• He is to ensure that manufacturers planned maintenance routines are adhered. He is to organize a planned maintenance schedule, which is to be followed strictly.
• He is responsible for all fuelling procedures and safe bunkering procedure
• He is responsible for cash spent in the engineering department and keeping records on a weekly basis.
• The Captain must give regular reports to the Yacht owner or his representative as to the condition of the Yacht.
• Consumption of alcohol and controlled substances is strictly forbidden for all the crew members including the Captain. If found under the influence of alcohol or any drug, the employee will be fired without further notice.

As a sportsfishing captain (15-30 meter vessels) I can tell you there are few "typical" or normal contracts or agreements.

Any captain worth the title can do both at the same time.

If I was C/E on a vessel where the Captain wanted to take charge of the bunkering ops, I would certainly make sure he wrote in the log that he was taking over the operations.

These two points are pretty closely related, I would also think as you are being so detailed you might add that you would check the actual fuel level is sufficient to get you where you need to go

If you are doing all these jobs what do the rest of the crew do and when do you find time to be the steering wheel attendant?

Is this your rule in regard to the alcohol or the Owners? Does it relate to onboard time or ashore as well?

Typical crew contract is determined by size of boat and flag. Typical contract between owner and captain depends on each individual and can be more complicated than the build specs.

What size boat? What flag? Where will it operate? Private or charter or both? When you can supply that information, contact a large yacht management firm and ask if you can purchase the template they use to generate those contracts. The owner/captain contract is a whole 'nuther fish and aside from the items required by law, might include things that you think only rock stars would demand ... or get.

Good luck.

An insurance policy will be provided by the Owner with the Captain included as additional insured to cover possible liabilities including but not limited to damage to vessel and all expenses related to injuries or sickness to the Captain. Coverage shall also include public liability and property damage. A copy of the policy will be forwarded to the Captain for review.


The Captain is not responsible for normal wear and tear, not for equipment failure under prudent operation consistent with established practices, not for loss resulting from Acts of God. The Captain is not responsible for losses due to acts of war, piracy, government actions, insurgencies, nor for damage to vessel or injuries the Crew sustain therefrom, nor for the termination of the voyage as a practical consequence therefrom.