What happens if there is a medical emergency during a yacht charter?

Answer

The captain and crew are responsible for managing the yacht and responding to emergencies within their training and the yacht’s operating procedures.

Depending on the circumstances and location, this may involve onboard first-aid resources, contacting emergency medical services, changing course, arranging evacuation or proceeding to an appropriate port.

The exact response depends on the nature of the emergency, the yacht, location and available medical services.

Analysis

A yacht is a mobile environment, so medical access can differ significantly from what guests would experience at a hotel or in a city.

This makes advance disclosure of relevant medical requirements and appropriate travel insurance particularly important.

Broker’s advice

We don’t want guests worrying about hypothetical emergencies, but we do want important medical information disclosed beforehand. The captain can then plan appropriately for the itinerary and location.