The Complete Guide for Superyacht Captains, Crew & Owners
Running a superyacht means managing far more than navigation and five-star hospitality. Today’s yachts operate as floating estates, with strict security demands, high-profile guests, rotating crew, and constant contractor access. In this environment, knowing exactly who is on board, when they arrived, and why is no longer just good practice; it’s crucial.
That’s where a Visitor Management System (VMS) for yachts comes in.
While many land-based solutions exist, the yachting industry faces completely different challenges. CrewBoard by YachtCloud is designed specifically for superyachts.
What Is a Visitor Management System?
A visitor management system is a digital tool that tracks, records, and manages the flow of people boarding and disembarking a vessel, such as crew, guests, contractors, day workers, agents, and more. But unlike land-based offices, yachts face unique requirements:
- Frequent harbour changes
- High-security profiles
- Changing crew rotations
- Limited space for paperwork
- ISPS/MLC compliance obligations
- Interaction with port authorities and security gate staff
A yacht-specific VMS must combine efficiency, mobility, and security, while staying simple enough for the busy crew to operate.
Why Yachts Need a Dedicated Visitor Management System
1. Enhanced On-Board Security
Superyachts often host UHNWIs, charter guests, or celebrities. Security teams need instant visibility over:
- Who is on board
- When they last checked in
- Their purpose of visit
- Whether they have completed safety briefings
With CrewBoard, this data is available in real time, from any device, anywhere on the vessel.
2. Replace Paper Logs With Digital, Tamper-Proof Records
Traditional logbooks are slow, error-prone, and difficult to audit.
A digital VMS automatically records:
- Arrival & departure timestamps
- Visitor identity details
- Crew rotations
- Muster lists and headcounts
This results in clean data, faster reporting, and peace of mind during inspections.
3. Streamlined Guest & Contractor Check-In
Superyachts rely on a constant flow of personnel, including chefs, engineers, florists, personal trainers, provisioning staff, AV/IT specialists, and more.
Features ideal for yachts include:
- Printed guest badges
- NDA or safety video acknowledgment
- SMS/email notifications tothe crew when a visitor arrives
4. ISPS & MLC Compliance Made Simple
Port authorities increasingly expect accurate digital records.
CrewBoard supports compliance through:
- Accurate access logs
- Emergency muster data
- Automated sign-in/out reporting
- Audit-ready documentation
During safety drills or real emergencies, captains and security officers can instantly access a full list of all persons on board.
5. Better Crew Management
Yacht crew operate on tight schedules and rotations, making crew tracking just as important as visitor tracking.
CrewBoard includes tools tailored for maritime operations:
- Crew sign-on/sign-off
- Rotations and leave tracking
- Overnight status
- Alerts when crew members are overdue to return
This increases operational efficiency and minimises risk.












