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Yachting Committee

The Yachting Committee (YC) will be responsible for networking and facilitating beneficial cooperation between the yachting sector and WISTA, this to seek synergies between the yachting and the maritime, logistics and trade industries.

Scope

  • Support and empower women working in the yachting sector, as it is part of the shipping industry.
  • Investigate if the rules and regulations of the maritime industry must also apply to the yachting sector.
  • Contribute to efforts to create an equal opportunity work environment for all professionals in the yachting sector. In areas such as gender equality, career development, professional skills, equal pay within the same environment.
  • Participates in the public debate on the development of yachting and supports NWAs in relevant issues.
  • Seeks and cultivates partnerships with organizations and educational institutions, ones which have programs specifically involving yachting.
  • With the support of Exco seeks and cultivates partnerships with yachting-related organizations and bodies, strengthening WISTA’s presence in the latter, with the aim of becoming an equal interlocutor in decision-making centres

WISTA Yachting Committee Members:

Mariana Barrera (WISTA Argentina), Sofi Mylona Hadjistylianou (WISTA Cyprus), Annette Suhrbier (WISTA Germany), Ruth Monney (WISTA Ghana), Eleni Matzaridou (WISTA Hellas), Francesca Manzi (WISTA Italy), Odunayo Ani (WISTA Nigeria), Pilar Castillo (WISTA Panama), Babette van Schriek (WISTA The Netherlands), Iren Arican Ozdemir (WISTA Turkiye), Karen Schandy (WISTA Uruguay), Isabella Wulff (WISTA Venezuela)

Chair of the Yachting Committee: Ingrid Gantard (WISTA Monaco) and Jo Stanley (WISTA USA)

ExCo Representative: Mariella Collazzi, Sub Jemilat Mahamah

The Growing Convergence of Shipping and Yachting

As yachts become larger, more technologically advanced, and increasingly global in operation, the line between traditional shipping and the yachting industry is becoming ever more blurred. This convergence creates both challenges and opportunities for companies, professionals, and regulators alike.

At WISTA International, we have recognized the importance of cross-sector collaboration. Through the lens of our Yachting Committee, we are now taking a closer look at how the shipping and yachting sectors can align, especially as they face shared concerns around regulation, technology, talent, and sustainability.

Yachts Are Scaling Up: In Size, Complexity, and Reach

Modern superyachts are no longer just floating luxury homes. With vessels surpassing 80 meters in length, many now require ISM systems, advanced technical management, and crewing structures that closely resemble commercial vessels. They rely on classification societies, follow increasingly strict environmental regulations, and demand the similar level of safety and operational integrity as merchant ships.

This scale and complexity bring the yachting world directly into shipping’s domain. Technical managers, suppliers, and crew with a shipping background are becoming increasingly relevant and sought after. What was once a cultural and operational gap is now closing.

The Technology Factor: From Starlink to Smart Systems

One of the key drivers of convergence is technology. Yachts today depend on sophisticated satellite communications, including Starlink, for global connectivity. They incorporate smart systems for automation, cybersecurity, and remote diagnostics, mirroring the digital transformation trends seen in commercial shipping.

This opens the door for shipping-focused tech companies to enter the yachting space, offering tools for planned maintenance, condition monitoring, energy management, and data analytics. As these systems become more common aboard large yachts, the demand for shipping-grade support infrastructure grows.

Supply Chains Are Expanding

Shipping suppliers, service providers, and technical consultancies are increasingly exploring the yachting market. Paints, lubricants, satellite systems, spare parts, compliance audits, many of these services are now needed by high-end yachts, especially those used for commercial charter.

This shift represents a major opportunity: not just for suppliers to expand their business, but also for WISTA members to act as connectors across sectors.

People Are the Bridge

Perhaps the most powerful area of convergence is talent. Many maritime professionals are moving fluidly between sectors, from deck officers and engineers to lawyers and project managers. Women in particular are navigating exciting career paths that cut across yachting, shipping, and maritime services.

At WISTA, we aim to support this trend by fostering networks, mentorships, and cross-sector dialogue. As yachting grows more professionalized and globalized, it will benefit from the expertise, standards, and diverse talent cultivated in commercial shipping.

WISTA’s Role in Shaping the Conversation

The WISTA Yachting Committee was created to better understand these dynamics and give voice to women working across the yachting value chain. We are launching initiatives to gather data, host conversations, and publish thought leadership to guide this convergence in a productive and inclusive way.Together, we can ensure that as the worlds of shipping and yachting come closer, they do so with collaboration, equality, and innovation at the core.