A brief history of the AYCA and its achievements

(for a more detailed history, click here)

Founded in 1986
The AYCA was founded in 1986 as an industry group for full time, professional yacht charter brokers.

The AYCA has had a considerable influence on chartering in all parts of the world.

Standardization:
Chartering is an international industry, regulated by customs, cabotage, and business laws specific to a particular cruising area. To reduce problems and provide the most protection for our clients, the AYCA has worked constantly on creating standardized business terms that can be recognized and adhered to on a worldwide basis.

Coast Guard:
The AYCA has established a direct liaison with the U.S. Coast Guard in Washington DC and works with them interpreting and applying law to the yacht charter industry. The AYCA Broker is well educated on U.S. Coast Guard Rules and Regulations.

The Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993 greatly impacted yacht charter on American flag vessels and in American waters. This Act established a new classification of charter for larger vessels generally over 100’, (an expanding area of product) and established general safety guidelines for this new classification. The AYCA worked directly with the committees in Congress and with the U.S. Coast Guard to adapt it to our industry.

Contracts:
The yacht charter contract is the single most important document in a yacht charter transaction. It identifies all responsibilities and business terms for the establishment and duration of the charter, supplying protection for the Charterer and the Owner. In 2000 the AYCA created a standardized yacht charter contract applicable to American flag vessels operating on a worldwide basis and all flag vessels operating in American waters.

Look for the AYCA logo when selecting your yacht charter broker

Current Projects

Contracts:
The AYCA continues to work on a series of contracts specific to American flag vessels operating on a worldwide basis and to all flag vessels operating in American waters. The aim is for the Charterer and Owner to be protected under the appropriate law as attached to the charter by the country to which the vessel is flagged, but to also use a recognizable set of business terms that can be applied to each charter on a worldwide basis. Both Charterers and Owner can then become familiar and comfortable with the expectation that the same business terms will be applied to charter in any location.

To accomplish this, the AYCA continues to work with a series of Attorneys on a volunteer basis and absorbing legal fees paid by the members in order to help establish uniformity in this worldwide industry.

Worldwide Yacht Charter legalities:
The U.S. Coast Guard, IMO, MARAD, ISO, SOLAS, MCA etc. are constantly attempting to establish greater safety conditions worldwide, with new maritime conventions, rules and regulations. These changing regulations all affect the yacht charter industry, and the AYCA continues, through volunteer work and research, to stay informed and help make the decisions to move our industry forward.

International Yacht Charter Meeting:
Genoa, Italy:
The AYCA in partnership with MYBA is participatory in creating and running this annual industry charter seminar, which opens the Western Mediterranean charter season. This is the only charter show run by the industry, for the industry. It features charter yachts for brokers to view, industry exhibitors offering products and services to the charter industry, plus educational seminars for yacht charter brokers and crews. It also offers an opportunity for all parties to meet and promote yacht chartering.

Liaison with other Worldwide Charter Organizations:
The AYCA continues through volunteer work by its members, to stay in constant contact with other major worldwide trade organizations, exchanging information and working on mutually beneficial projects.

The AYCA is considered the American sister organization to the Mediterranean Yacht Charter Association (MYBA) and works closely with this organization.
 
Look for the AYCA logo when selecting your yacht charter broker