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Yacht Training Company Approved by 15 Flags and Counting

International Yacht Training Worldwide Founder Mark Fry spoke with the ISRR about how his yacht training firm became approved by more flag states than any other.

Fry said:

In 1997, my business partner and I (Mr. Chris Taylor), were working in Ft Lauderdale Florida on various Superyachts and operated a company called International Yacht Deliveries, delivering yachts around the world . I held a “Yachtmaster” certificate from the Irish Yachting Association and Chris held a “Yachtmaster “ certificate from Yachting Australia. Individuals who applied to work for us held a quagmire of various maritime qualifications issued by multiple Flag State administrations from around the world with everyone “singing off a different hymn sheet” with completely differing standards, this set us on a path to do something about this and standardise training.

We then set up a company called International Yacht Training to teach professional Yacht crew ( up to 3,000 Gross Tons) and for want of a better terminology, invented the first and only “international driving license for yachts”. Our training revenues went from zero to $2.6 million in just four years. We applied to numerous Flag States for recognition of our qualifications ( which we duly received), and we now have over 150 partner schools teaching 32 courses in 46 countries in dozens of languages and our numerous certificates are recognised at different levels by the following Flag State administrations: 

  • UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA)
  • United States Coastguard
  • Cayman Island Shipping Registry
  • Bahamas Maritime Authority
  • Irish Department of Transport
  • Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Goverment of Bermuda - Ministry of Transport
  • Secreteria De Estado De Transportes – Spain
  • Ministry of Maritime Affairs – Croatia
  • Australian Government - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
  • New South Wales Maritime Australia
  • Government of Western Australia – Marine Safety
  • Director of Maritime Office, Gdynia – Poland
  • Ministry of Public Works and Transportation – Lebanon
  • United Arab Emirates, National Transport Authority

 

Fry said no other yacht training company has received more flag state approvals. Further, IYT has just received verbal approval from the Swedish Maritime Administration and expects approval from Malta later this year.

The ISRR thanks Mr. Fry for taking the time to share his insights with us. For more on International Yacht Training Worldwide, visit http://iytworldwide.com.