EXPERIENCED superyacht staff are in hot demand as the America’s Cup approaches.
Despite Covid-19 impacting the number of large vessels heading to Auckland for the match, some are still on the way.
Of 77 berths available at the Silo and Viaduct marinas, 62 have confirmed bookings.
Whilst the majority are local vessels, about a third will be visiting vessels.
Recruiting agency ExtraStaff has been looking for workers for a number of private vessels that will be berthed in the city.
Recruitment agency ExtraStaff is looking for staff to work on superyachts in Auckland.
Roles needing to be filled include a superyacht captain, head chef, first mate, deckhands, a chief stewardess, a chief engineer and boat cleaners.
Another recruitment agency, Madison, is also looking for temporary dockhands to be part of the America’s Cup between December 1 and April 2021.
Responsibilities for these workers will include meeting and greeting arriving boats and assisting with dock lines.Panuku spent $18.5 million upgrading berths and adding temporary berths for the America’s Cup. ExtraStaff managing director Tom Tschudin said there aren’t nearly as many yachts coming into New Zealand because of Covid-19 but some are still coming for the America’s Cup.
Tschudin said the company is seeking Kiwis for the jobs.
“With Covid, there has been a surge of people with substantial international yachting crew experience flocking home to New Zealand and seeking opportunities locally.
“We are seeing that some are making a permanent decision to stay and others will return to Europe and the United States over the coming years.”
Tschudin said the industry had seen a “drastic upswing” of Kiwis who would normally travel overseas put their funds towards the purchase of boats or yachts – either outright or in a boat sharing arrangement.
“The America’s Cup hype and inability to travel internationally is fuelling this locally,” he said.
“This is driving job growth for Kiwis, presenting an opportunity for those with the crew experience or an interest to get into the industry an ability to be land based right here in New Zealand to take up work at the most exciting time of the yachting events calendar.”
Because Covid-19 has impacted the number of visiting vessels, Silo and Viaduct marina manager John Matla said the decision has been made to lower the superyacht berthage rate for locals.
The new local berth rate is effectively the non-America’s Cup rate. For a 19-metre local boat it is $95-130 a day, versus $1750 for a visiting superyacht.
Matla said he is confident the remaining berths will be booked, adding to the “energy and excitement” of the race village.
For the vessels that are coming from overseas, isolation requirements will have to be undertaken, a Managed Isolation and Quarantine spokesman said.
Any crew wanting to leave the vessel will need to isolate for 14 days and return a negative Covid-19 test.
Vessels that arrive in New Zealand after 12 days of no contact with other people en route may be permitted to complete the remaining isolation period onboard.
“For crews who arrive before 12 days, or cannot isolate safely or appropriately on board, crew will be required to transfer to a MIQ facility as it is deemed safer with regard to the criteria outlined in question one and is in line with the Maritime Border Order requirements.”
(SOURCE: STUFF.CON.NZ)
