The risks of sharing confidential Information in yachting

Yacht crew members should protect themselves, their careers, and the privacy of the individuals they serve.

1. Breach of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are commonplace in the yachting industry. They are designed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of yacht owners, guests, and agencies. Crew members are often required to sign NDAs as a condition of their employment, prohibiting them from disclosing confidential information about the yacht, its owners, guests, operations, locations, and onboard activities.

In many instances, yacht agencies also require the crew they work with to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect their interests. Nonetheless, breaching any form of confidentiality agreement can have dire consequences for both parties.

2. Cybersecurity Risks

Sharing confidential information increases the risk of cyber-attacks.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) now requires yachts over 500 gross tons to have a cybersecurity plan, highlighting the growing concern over cybersecurity in the industry.

3. Invasion of Privacy

High-profile individuals and their families often use yachts for privacy. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information can lead to an invasion of privacy, resulting in reputation damage, and in severe cases, personal safety risks.

4. Potential for Misuse of Information

The information shared with different yacht agencies could be misused, leading to issues such as identity theft, fraud or blackmail. Forwarding emails containing private information could violate data protection laws like the GDPR, and disclosing information that is addressed to one person to another person is another breach of GDPR privacy policy. It is not uncommon for email chains containing multiple conversations to be forwarded as part of communication. In doing so, there is a risk of privacy breaches occurring, whereby more information than is necessary is disclosed to the recipient. Follow any internal agency policies in place for email attachments, and in any case, you should always review the attachment to ensure that it is intended for the email recipient. It is important to note that cybercriminals can gather information to use against high-profile or high-net-worth individuals through malware or spyware, or by gaining access to the yacht’s more sensitive networks.

5. Impact on Career Opportunities

NDA's can limit a yacht crew members ability to discuss their work experiences and accomplishments with potential future employers. If a crew member agrees to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) preventing them from disclosing their work history on a specific yacht, they might be restricted from including that experience on their CV or talking about it during their job interview.

In conclusion, it is crucial to maintain confidentiality and follow the appropriate protocols to protect sensitive information in the yachting industry. The potential risks associated with sharing confidential information underscore the importance of adhering to NDAs and other confidentiality agreements. By doing so, yacht crew members can protect themselves, their careers, and the privacy of the individuals they serve.

At Evolution, confidentiality is taken very seriously and protocols are followed based on privacy standards regarding the GDPR.

Our legal team can be contacted at legal@evolutionagents.com if you wish to request further information on sensitive data that concerns you and your crew.

Evolution Yacht Agents is the leading-edge team of professionals dedicated to providing assured and quality support and services to yachts in Spanish waters.

A full range of superyacht specialized services includes: charter license & legal advice, TPA (Vat exemption), customs & logistics operations, provisions & interior supplies, deck & engineering supplies and crew & VIP services.