The International Seakeepers Society - Ocean Restoration , Protection and Conservation

SEAKEEPERS PROFESSIONALS
Working together to restore and protect the World's Oceans

Working in concert with a broad spectrum of yachting industry firms and executives, the International SeaKeepers Society announces a major expansion of its ocean-monitoring mission by extending membership to include yacht captains and crew.

The new membership category, called SeaKeepers Professionals, kicked off at a charitable dinner, the SeaKeepers Soiree, on October 20, 2007 just before the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The dinner, was envisioned as the first of many yachting professional events to be held around the world, with a goal to raise more than $75,000 (USD) to cover the cost of the installation of a SeaKeeper 1000™ ocean and weather monitoring station. The first system funded by SeaKeepers Professionals will be donated to Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center and deployed in the southern region of Florida, while international locations will follow future events.

SeaKeepers new Captains Advisory Council President Captain Charles Hacker of M/Y Aviva (left) with Allison Rutherford and fellow CAC member Captain Ken Bracewell of M/Y Curt-C at the inaugural SeaKeepers Soirée in Fort Lauderdale. Photo credit: Suki Finnerty

Professional yachtsmen will be able to join the SeaKeepers Society in three membership categories. Captain's Circle membership (requires a 500 ton license OR int’l equivalent OR Y4 or greater engineer’s license) can be obtained for a $250 donation to the Society, the Officers Club for a $150 donation, and all other Professional Associates can join for at a donation of $50; annual donations are necessary to stay active. A "boat rate" is also available, where an entire crew can join for a discounted rate. Any yacht in which the entire crew joins will receive a 20 percent discount for everyone onboard. Furthermore, the yacht will receive a custom SeaKeepers Professionals burgee to fly. SeaKeepers Professionals is open to anyone who has worked on a yacht in a paid category as their primary job for at least three months during the last three years.

Annually, the SeaKeepers Society will invite select members of its Captain's Circle to join a Captain's Advisory Board to assist its Board of Directors on issues regarding the professional side of yachting. The following nine captains compose SeaKeepers’ premier Captains Advisory Council:

Impetus for the formation of SeaKeepers Professionals came from the industry itself. “We have to give a lot of credit and thanks to Graeme Lord and his colleagues at the International Yacht Collection," said Jim Gilbert, Board President of the SeaKeepers Society. "We had been talking about expanding our membership to include the professional segment of the yachting community for several years and never had the time or resources to pursue this objective. When Graeme approached us several months ago offering to spearhead this initiative we jumped at the opportunity."

Response to the concept of a professional yachtsmen's event to support the cause of marine conservation has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, Lord said. "Everyone we have approached in the industry, from crew outfitters to fellow members of the brokerage and management community has eagerly agreed to help," he said. "Nobody is more aware about the deteriorating marine environment than yacht crew," he added. "Not only are they passionate about the sea, but they clearly see the link between healthy oceans and the professional advancement they seek during the course of their careers."

John Englander, CEO of the SeaKeepers Society, said professional yachtsmen can make a big impact in protecting the seas. "Our monitoring mission has expanded significantly in recent years from our initial objective of using yachts to monitor the sea. Coastal monitoring has grown significantly in importance due to increasing pollution, red tides, and even effects from global warming such as ocean acidification. By underwriting the cost of fixed monitors in critical locations around the globe, yacht crew will add significantly to the scientific understanding of the major oceanographic and climatological changes now taking place everywhere in the world."

“Nobody is more aware about the deteriorating
marine environment than yacht crew.”
GRAEME LORD
International Yacht Collection