Some of our previous students currently employed in Super Yacht Industry – we are so proud!!!

1. Initial contact (Online, Phone or Personal Appointment): Viewing of applicant’s CV, followed by discussing related work-experience
2. Formulating training packages and/or other options within the Super Yacht / Maritime Industry - suitable to each individual's schedule and budget
3. Individual Career Guidance
4. Our services include:

• • Advice on CV preparation, Business Cards and Full Colour Picture
  • Student Course Evaluation and Assessment
  • Advice on Reference Capturing
  • Interviewing techniques
  • Professional Presentation
  • Advice on Preparation of Crew Portfolio
  • Providing Documentation for Career Development for Deck Hands
  • Assistance with applying for an Offshore Bank Account, advice regarding visa applications
  • Advice on Training Record Books and Certification with the RYA
    

We focus on a long term commitment to our crew. From past experiences, we understand the difficulties of not only starting a career in the Maritime Industry, but progressing as well. Once introduced to the exciting life on board Super Yachts, and making the decision to commit to it long-term, there is a regulated qualification process that needs to be followed to advance on board. We will constantly evaluate and monitor each individual’s position on board and assist them in achieving their next level of qualification.

For the Deck Department, for example, meeting the requirement for MCA/RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Qualification, or the MCA Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certification. Part of this process would be supplying our crew with Watchkeeping and Sea Service Templates, providing MCA Training Record Books and Confirmation Letters from Captains having observed Deck Crew in specific Watchkeeping and Senior Officer situations.

We constantly update our information regarding changes within the Industry. For example: Sea service has now been separated into 5 categories: Onboard Yacht Service, Actual Sea Service, Stand-by Service, Yard Service & Watchkeeping Service. This needs to be documented on each vessel each deck crew member is employed on and is only one of the prerequisites.

For the Steward/esses, it is strongly advised that you pursue the newly introduced PYA GUEST programme structure and training (see www.pya.org) for more information.  Deck and Engineering Crew benefit from a clearly defined rout to training and certification.  However, there has been no such structure in existence for Interior crew – until now!  PYA, the professional body for yacht crew, has spent years consulting with the yachting industry to establish a clear career path for interior crew.  The result of this consultation has led to the creation of the GUEST © industry standard for Steward/esses. 

The certification is modular in structure.  Training objectives with syllabus outlines for each individual module are clearly defined.  This ensures a unified, across the board, training dividend for each student.  The Training Providers are monitored and audited by the PYA to ensure what is being taught is in fact what is called for in guidelines.  There are 3 levels for development – Introduction, Operational and Head of Departments.  Each of these levels have various modules included, as well as yacht service time and guest service time, which is recorded from the first day a Steward/ess starts his/her new career. SYSA now offers all 3 PYA Accredited modules on Introduction level.

After having viewed our website, we hope that it is apparent that our main focus is on assisting our crew in entering this amazing Industry. Furthermore, we would like to actively be involved in each crew member’s progression throughout their careers, through continued contact and assistance.

SYSA believes in giving back to our community and we shopped for blankets, dog and puppy food, cat and kitten food, tick shampoo, food bowls, collars and leashes, animal medicine and toys for our chosen charity – AFRICAN TAILS.  

If you would like to get involved in this wonderful charity, check them out on www.africantails.co.za

Their aim is to give every abused and neglected street dog the happy ending they deserve. Sure, the township isn’t the ideal setting for a fairytale-style happy ending. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

Whether it’s finding a puppy a loving new home, feeding a starving stray, curbing the cycle of over-population through regular sterilisation campaigns or simply euthanasing a suffering animal, African Tails is doing its best to write new stories of hope and triumph in the places that truly need them most.

The precious cargo is loaded by Tristan and Cherie and our helpful parking attendant




Our arrival at African Tails Office on Koeberg Road with the “SYSA mobile”




Veronica Nel, General Manager of African Tails welcomes us (with some of the beautiful rescue pups awaiting homes)




Tristan and the rescues doggies in the background overseeing the delivery and doing quality control

OUT OF AFRICA CHILDREN’S FUND AND TABLE VIEW BABY SAFE

Their primary purpose is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and terminally illnesses, as well as saving abandoned babies in South Africa.  They support the needs of the children and their immediate family in the most dignified and compassionate manner.

We donated hundreds of baby clothing items for the “Baby Safe” project – providing a safe, confidential and dignified option to mothers who feel like they cannot cope with a newborn baby.  Unfortunately, yearly, a vast number of babies are abandoned in dumpsters, rubbish piles and in storm drains over South Africa.

To become involved in this wonderful cause, please view: www.outofafricacf.org

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Our donation to the Out of Africa Children’s Fund was handed out to mothers and children of Tygerberg Hospital during INTERNATIONAL MANDELA DAY – 18 July 2011

During a celebration of the “Mandela 67 minutes” on 18 July, Out of Africa Children’s Fund spent the day with the children of Tygerberg Hospital.  Several companies joined in to make the children feel special and hand out gifts and care packages.

Our baby clothes donation was handed out to mothers with small babies – what a special way to say:  “we care”.

It is a blessing to be part of Kim Ferroli-Highfield’s wonderful campaigns and projects!

Our baby items being handed out by Kim to a brave mommy with a sick baby in Tygerberg Hospital.

The wonderful people and children at Tygerberg Hospital.

The SYSA team was very busy on Mandela Day – there were several training courses and marketing projects going on, so our “67 minutes” (more like 4 hours) took place on 17 July – Isobel made a whopping 200 sandwiches, dropped them off at Joe Slovo Informal Settlement in Milnerton, where an informal trader welcomed her at her “Spaza Shop”, where she normally sells BBQ chicken and what looked like tripe. 

The sandwiches were part of an empowerment initiative – the shopkeeper sold the sandwiches at R2.00 each and therefore we happily contributed to her business and her meagre salary as an informal shopkeeper. 

Isobel also could not resist handing out some of the sandwiches to little children playing in the area – and provided for some hungry tummies on that sunny Sunday afternoon.

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ANGEL KNITTERS

We also joined in to donate a almost a 100 yarns of wool for a group of volunteers, the Angel Knitters, mostly consisting of elderly and retired ladies who knit various winter items for Hospice and other charities. They receive no funding and we thought this is an excellent way to help out such a lovely group of people!!

One of the ladies in this group is 92 years old! Recently, they delivered 170 pairs of gloves, 400 woollen hats and currently working on 200 baby jackets and 230 pairs of gloves! That is some serious knitting!!