Captains will find plenty of avenues for distraction from making nice with brokers at this year’s revitalized Newport Charter Yacht Show. Show organizers have scheduled a series of seminars tailored for skippers attending the event, June 18-21, in the historic Rhode Island town. The seminars are:

Monday, June 18: “Entering U.S. Waters”
A presentation by Donna Bradbury, a representative of BWA Yachting for Florida and the Bahamas, will take the audience through the process of bringing a foreign-flagged vessel to the U.S. and explain how the yacht entry process varies from country to country based on local compliance regulations.

“The U.S. entry briefing specifically highlights compliance regulations within the U.S. so that arrivals and departures go smoothly,” said Bradbury, who has been involved in the marine industry and with BWA Yachting for approximately 12 years. The company serves over 275 ports and marinas in the Mediterranean, U.S., Bahamas and Caribbean. “The U.S. offers diverse cruising grounds from the East to the West Coasts, filled with spectacular sights. We look forward to more yachts visiting the U.S., and of course we are looking to make their stay a memorable one.”

Tuesday, June 19: “Discover New England”
With so much recreational boating and charter activity prevalent throughout New England, tourism representatives from Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island will come together to share tips with charter industry professionals. Presentations will be focused on servicing luxury charter clientele and include new product developments, tours, services and special areas of interest along the coast of each state.

Wednesday, June 20: “STCW Changes and Implications to Your Mariner’s License”
Julie Liberatore of Maritime Professional Training and Michael French of International Yacht Training will highlight the changes to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) for seafarers, which took effect January 1, 2012. Each with backgrounds in maritime training, Liberatore and French will discuss how the process of receiving and renewing licenses, which allow mariners to operate large commercial and private vessels, has evolved, along with the implications of those changes. “The STCW convention forms the very foundation for safety training in the yachting sector as in any maritime sector,” said French. “It is vital that yacht crew are offered continuing information on how regulations affect them.”

Thursday, June 21: “Enhancing Crew and Guest Safety”
With private yachts becoming larger and their systems more complex, the crew responsibilities increase and advanced training becomes vital. Steve Monk of Da Gama, Ltd., a navigation management company with a focus on training, will speak on the importance of captain and crew preparation at sea and how vital it is for passenger safety. “Training is a crucial aspect in the life of a superyacht, but it is unfortunately one of the first things that can be dropped when a tight schedule and other commitments take precedence,” said Monk, a seasoned mariner with over 20 years of experience driving ships and instructing bridge teams from a variety of different backgrounds, including two years at the U.S. Naval Academy developing and honing the skills of future officers. “With charterers and owners wanting to explore more remote areas of the globe, the importance of training has never been more crucial.”

The show, now owned by Newport Harbor Corporation, is the only one of its kind in the U.S. The Newport Yachting Center Marina & Special Events venue is located on four acres in the heart of scenic downtown Newport. The space is able to accommodate large yachts and is equipped with long, side-tie berthing, high-volume fueling, single- and multi-phase power, WiFi, water and a wide range of technical repair and support services, along with easy access to adjacent downtown Newport.

Yachts registered before April 1 receive a 10 percent discount.

For more information on exhibiting, contact: Lisa Knowles, Sales Manager, Newport Exhibition Group, +1 401-846-1115, ext. 216, [email protected]; or visit newportchartershow.com.