Crew benefits

[michael201]

When you employee and pay a Captain for his/her services (long term) while cruising, is it customary for him/her to pay for their own food consumption? If I am paying the rate of 1K per foot per year area....

In other words, if I employee a Captain and pay 60K per year for services, is food also generally included? Would it be an insult to ask for $ back to cover their intake?

What other things would I be responsible for or not responsible for in general?

[swagman]

I'd suggest you draw up a contract of employment where you state clearly what is included in his package and define what is not as well as define terms of termination, notice periods, taxation responsibilities, liability insurance etc etc.

I don't think there are clear guidelines anywhere on what may be included, but overall I'd suggest this job is not too different in spec to any other 'accomodated' type job (ie the employer provides full board and lodgings) so you need to clarify in detail what he gets and what he pays for.

It would certainly be insulting if he took a role expecting you to provide this to only to learn after engagement that you expected him to pay for that himself!

Good luck
JOHN

[hellosailor]

While anything can be contracted, you might want to check the admiralty laws for your home country and for how your vessel is flagged. They probably will place certain burdens on you, including potential financial ones for your hired crew.

And then of course there are labor laws which may be applicable for your "employees" in general.

This is something to get professional advice on, either from people in the business, or perhaps a lawyer experienced in the field.

[GordMay]

There’s a multi-national listing (/w links), including USA “Jones Act*”, of maritime crew (seaman) law at:
“Merchant Shipping Acts and Seafarers’ Legislation”
http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/cprofiles/MarLex.htm

* The Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. 688 (1970), is an Act of Congress, which governs the liability of vessel operators and marine employers for the work-related injury or death of an employee.

[swagman]

Another point worth noting - although laws might vary by country or juristriction - are the responsibilities a skipper and crew carry for the wages they get paid.

Recently there was a case in the UK where a skipper was engaged to deliver a new large power boat only 60 miles along the UK south coast back to the builders yard. By the sound of the press reports he was only offered $200 or so for the delivery trip - and took appeared to take it on for the fun for driving a big power boat. The skipper in turn invited another pal to come with him as crew, sharing the $200 between them.

At night they set waypoints on major buoys and set off from the Solent with the crewman on watch. As they exited the Narrows Channel there was some confusion on the course set and possibly some equipment failure - and the skipper was called whilst both grovelled around trying to sort the issues - just when the boat hit a large metal buoy at speed.

If that were not bad enough, if they had not slowed down maybe they would have got home. But backing off the power saw the hole they'd created in the bow sink below water level with expected results - the new boat filled and foundered.

Both got off safely but in the ensuing court case both were found to be responsible. The crewman as he was supposedly on watch, and the skipper because he was the skipper. The owners insurance company took both to the cleaners even though they'd only been paid a pittance for the work done - and I believe one of these guys was made bankrupt as a result.

So assuming similar responsibilities may exist in other parts of the world - one should never forget the responsibilities a skipper (and clearly in this case crew also) take when sailing someone else's boat.

Its worth remembering that when one thinks about making them pay for a sandwich, eh?

Cheers
JOHN

[ssullivan]

Michalel, although we couldn't talk further regarding that position... I'd like to still help you in realizing that yes... including food is customary. It's one of the chief reasons people take up this profession.

However, since you have a smaller vessel, I think you could play a little more loose with some of the rules. Talk to the guy... see what he thinks. Your salary is certainly fair, so maybe he'll be flexible.

[michael201]

Thanks. Question answered.

[hellosailor]

Swagman, your UK case sounds more like what we would call in the US a case of an employee versus a contractor. An employee (hired crew) woudl not be responsible for the loss of the boat. A hired contractor, probably would be. I expect there are similar lines drawn in the UK?

[olepedersen]

Having worked manyl years as both a "Delivery skipper" and a "Captain"The responsibilities are the same safety of vessel and crew. however deliveries are oft quoted as a packaed deal where the skipper is responsible for crew and provisions. A captain is often expected to provision to the owners taste , and keep the boat in maintenance to both owner and captains expectations ,this would for example include dress , passage planning,state of readyness etc , but generally if captain stays on board his Uniform,and food is covered by his employer, remember it is also your responsibility to get him and any member of your crew, back to home port should the cruise be cut short