Superyacht Safety Culture, Reporting & CHIRP

🚨 What really happens when yacht crew report incidents, and how many lives has CHIRP already helped save?

In this episode of Sea Views, host Julia Gosling sits down with Paul Shepherd, Chair of the CHIRP Superyacht Board, to unpack how confidential incident reporting is reshaping safety culture across the superyacht industry. From near misses and falls from height to lithium battery fires, manning levels and harassment on board, this is a straight talking look at what is really happening at sea and what must change.

Paul explains how CHIRP’s Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme works in practice, why anonymity is non negotiable, and how reports are turned into practical safety lessons that captains, management companies and crew can use immediately. He also digs into the regulatory gap between private and commercial superyachts, and why minimum safe manning is no longer enough for today’s dual season, high intensity programs.

✅ In this episode you will learn:
How CHIRP’s confidential superyacht reporting system actually works from first contact to published lesson
Why near misses are "accidents that did not happen" and how they can prevent the next fatality
The real risk behind work aloft on wet, sloping decks and why flags are now pushing back
Emerging technical dangers, including engine start battery explosions and lithium ion battery fires
How crew welfare, hours of rest, manning levels and cabin conditions link directly to safety on board
Where harassment and abuse fit into the safety picture and how CHIRP and ISWAN work together
Why the regulatory divide between private and commercial superyachts is no longer defensible
What a "minimum operational safe manning" model could look like for busy charter and dual season yachts
How captains, managers and owners can use honest reporting as a mark of professionalism, not weakness
Paul’s direct appeal to yacht crew worldwide to share their own stories and help drive industry change

💬 Join the conversation:
Do you have a near miss story or a lesson learned that others could benefit from, even if it happened years ago? You can message us about what you believe most needs to change in superyacht safety culture and reporting.

📣 How to report to CHIRP:
If you are yacht crew and want to share a safety concern, incident or near miss confidentially, visit the CHIRP Maritime website or app. Reports can be made by phone, email or online, and your identity is fully protected at every stage.
🌐 Website: https://chirp.co.uk/maritime/
📧 Email: mail@chirp.co.uk
☎️ Phone (UK): +44 20 4534 2881

🎙️ Host: Julia Gosling | Sea Views Podcast
👤 Guest: Paul Shepherd | Chair, CHIRP Superyacht Board

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube.

CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.

by Ahoy Communications Ltd