3 October 2024
Williams Jet Tenders, the world’s leading specialist in jet-powered luxury tenders, proudly announces a collaboration with UKSA, the renowned marine training centre. This exciting collaborative initiative aims to provide practical industry experience for future professionals on the flagship Superyacht Cadetship programme.
The programme involves hands-on activities, familiarising cadets with jet tenders widely used in the industry. Cadets will engage in daily tender operations to develop their confidence and enhance their skills in guest service. The programme will also include instruction on jet propulsion systems and engines, commonly utilised in jet skis and other watercraft. This knowledge will provide the cadets with a comprehensive understanding of these systems. Ultimately, this initiative aims to instil confidence in the students, preparing them for real-life scenarios and arming them with the experience necessary to secure employment in the industry.
Based on feedback from Captains, HODs, and recruiters, there are an abundance of junior crew entering the industry with their Powerboat Level 2 and Tender Operator licences, but minimal drive time, other than the two days spent completing the course. When handling top of the range tenders and chase boats, owners need to have confidence that their crew have a solid understanding of handling various tenders, along with navigation and seamanship skills and safety awareness.
Louis Palmer-Smith, Technical Sales at Williams Jet Tenders, is a 2019 Superyacht Cadetship graduate, and has worked aboard motor yachts between 22m – 50m for over two years, so has experienced this skills-gap first-hand. Williams is the leader in the yacht tender market, so for cadets to be working on the same craft they’re likely to use in the field will fill them with confidence. This module will also expand each cadet’s skill set, allowing them to go into other areas of the industry they may not have considered before, such as boat building, engineering or even recruitment.
Kenia Yates (Wilsonhalligan Recruitment): “The Yachtmaster is becoming a requirement for the majority of the yachts we work with due to the large tenders and chase boats they are purchasing. The candidates who have the most success in securing their first position are those who have drive time and practical experience alongside their Yachtmaster qualification. This opportunity for the Cadets to get drive time onboard jet tenders is going to give them a big advantage when entering a very competitive market.
Some yachts do not have time to train, so it may be quite some time until deck crew have the opportunity to drive tenders. If they know applicants have previous drive time and training, they can feel more confident in their decision to have them at the wheel. This really is an exciting opportunity for the Cadets.”
Matt Prescott (Officer of the Watch <3000GT – 2018 Cadetship Graduate) said: “I’ve been working in the industry for five years and up until recently have only driven jet drive tenders. They handle completely differently to outboard / screw engine tenders so for the Cadets to get a head start in practising and understanding how jet drives operate and respond is an opportunity I wish I had back when I started out. Everyone has hit, dinged or bounced a tender off or into something in their career, it’s a lot better to do that in training than with the boss looking over your shoulder.”