Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Lloyd’s Register (LR) and the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) have announced a landmark partnership aimed at redefining safety culture in the superyacht industry, placing crew wellbeing at its core.

The collaboration, formalised at the Metstrade show in Amsterdam, launches a Joint Development Project (JDP) to tackle the evolving challenges of crew safety and wellbeing. The initiative will examine how the physical and mental health of crew members directly influences safety behaviours onboard, with the ultimate goal of fostering a proactive, human-centred safety culture across the sector.

LR will contribute its extensive technical expertise in safety frameworks, while ISWAN brings specialist knowledge of seafarer welfare and direct engagement with crew. The project builds on LR’s ongoing safety culture survey of seagoing yachts and management companies, which has underscored the need for a behaviour-driven, proactive approach to safety. Early findings highlight transparency, crew empowerment, and intelligent design as key factors in reducing risk and enhancing operational integrity.

Engel-Jan de Boer, Global Yacht Segment Director at LR, said: “Together, LR and ISWAN can leverage our shared expertise to drive meaningful, lasting change. Safety is not just about compliance—it’s about people, leadership, and culture. This partnership provides a platform to embed these values throughout the superyacht industry.”

ISWAN will ensure that crew wellbeing remains central to the initiative, recognising the vital link between mental and physical health and a safe working environment. The organisation will also help amplify crew voices, encouraging the industry to engage with the human side of safety.

Simon Grainge, Chief Executive at ISWAN, added: “Crew members are at the heart of every safe and successful operation, yet wellbeing is often treated separately from safety. Through this partnership, we aim to ensure that crew experiences and perspectives directly shape how safety is understood and implemented in yachting.”