ONBOARD Magazine winter 2019

MYBA NEWS
Setting standards and
striving for excellence
With the diligence
and hard work of John
Wyborn, MYBA’s
Competency Standard
will set the benchmark
for professionalism
in superyacht
transactions and
operation
Striving for excellence has always been
at the core of MYBA The Worldwide
Yachting Association’s existence
and it certainly is the driving force behind
the MYBA Competency Standard. The
Standard is a consultation document
designed to provide those beginning to
work for a MYBA Member company with
a clearly defined pathway of the areas in
which they need to improve their skills in
order to ensure success. Whether they
are crew moving to a shore based career
or just out of school/university, they will all
have access to a structured learning plan.
How did it come about? In 2014 Cora Tracey,
MYBA’s Executive Officer, presented a
proposal to the MYBA Board concerning the
creation of a competency standard to act
as a guide for the continuing professional
development of the Membership. The
initiative received enthusiastic support
and Ian Biles, who runs the successful
annual MYBA Superyacht Brokers’ Seminar,
undertook the ground work. After four
years of careful consideration and planning,
the Standard was announced at the 2018
Monaco Yacht Show and was warmly
welcomed by the superyacht industry. When
it is fully implemented next year, clients
and industry professionals alike will have
clear and objective confirmation of what
many already understand: that MYBA
sets the benchmark for professionalism in
superyacht transactions and operations.
The MYBA Competency Standard is set
to be a game-changer, a living document
that reflects the needs of our industry.
Why do we call it a living document? Because
it will never be “finished” as it will always
need to be updated in order to reflect
changes in the industry, law or regulations.
Why do we consider it a game changer?
Because this has never been done before
in any sector of our industry. At this point
it is important to clarify that this is not
a qualification; it is a standard. You may
ask what the difference is. A qualification
certifies that something has been learned;
a standard defines an expectation.
The MYBA Competency Standard is divided
into three columns, just like an apprenticeship
standard. These are knowledge, skills and
behaviours. There are two main sections.
The first is a core section common to all
candidates, wherever they may wish to
work; the idea is to provide a common base
level for all MYBA Members. The second
contains more advanced and detailed
competencies in the specialist area of
Sales Broker, Retail Charter Broker &
Charter Fleet Manager (these two are
combined) and Operational Manager. The
idea here is that once a candidate has
completed the core and specialist parts
of the standard they should be able to
function effectively and independently
within a Member company.
How will it be used? That shall be decided
over the coming months and will be
discussed in depth first by the MYBA
Membership. The logical development
is that the knowledge section will be
verified by some type of written or oral
examination. This could be organised inhouse,
like the current Membership exams,
or outsourced to another organisation.
The skills and behaviour section will need
to be attested by senior MYBA Members.
For example, once a junior broker has
organised sea trials a specific number of
times (to be decided) to the satisfaction
of their employer, this can be recorded in
a “training record”. The training record
could be a digital one, to be accessed on
a smartphone or tablet.
The standard could form a part of the
MYBA Membership application process,
or a qualifying condition for access to
YACHTFOLIO or E-Contracts. Clearly it
will apply at some point to new Members
however, precise criteria may need to be
developed for people with plenty of qualifying
experience who have just never applied for
MYBA Membership.
It has taken years to nurture this idea, it will
take a few more months for it to come into
use but it is expected to live long and serve
as an inspiration for yachting professionals
to move onwards and upwards.
ONBOARD | WINTER 2019 | 17