Work with us · HOD referral programme

You know good crew when you work with them.
Get paid for the ones you'd hire again.

If you're a Head of Department onboard — Captain, Chief Engineer, Chief Stew, Purser, Bosun, Head Chef — refer crew into the Fit2Sea network. When we place them and your reference holds up in practice, you earn a commission.

Two‑stage commission. Paid on real placements, not introductions.

Open to all HODs

Not just captains and chief stews — every department head.

Fit2Sea has expanded. We work with the full HOD network across deck, interior, engineering and galley. If your judgement on crew is trusted onboard, it's trusted here.

CaptainChief OfficerChief Engineer2nd EngineerChief Stew2nd Stew (acting HOD)PurserHead Chef / Sous ChefBosun
How the referral works

Simple. Honest. Paid on performance.

01

Refer

Send us a crew member you'd vouch for. Quick form — name, role, why they're solid.

02

We verify

An agent interviews them, checks certificates, and meets them in person where possible.

03

We place

When a yacht hires them through Fit2Sea, your referral is logged against the placement.

04

You earn

Commission paid once the placement holds and your reference is confirmed accurate onboard.

Commission model

How you actually get paid

No flat finder's fee, no points, no leaderboard games. A clean percentage of the placement, split into two tranches so the incentive stays aligned with the yacht keeping the crew member.

What you earn

A percentage of Fit2Sea's placement fee on the role you referred. Senior and HOD placements sit in a higher band than junior crew — because the fee is bigger and the reference matters more.

When you're paid

Two tranches. The first lands when the candidate signs and joins the yacht. The second lands once they pass probation onboard — typically 60 to 90 days. This is the part that rewards an honest reference.

When it doesn't pay

Candidate withdraws before joining, the reference proves materially inaccurate, or they leave during probation for reasons tied to what you described. No penalty — just no commission.

Exact percentages and tranche split are confirmed in your referrer agreement. We don't publish rates publicly so we can stay fair across yacht sizes and role bands — but everything is on one page, in plain English, before you sign.

Worked example

What a real referral looks like

Names and yacht size are illustrative. The structure is real.

Timeline

  1. Day 0 — Referral

    You're a Chief Stew. You refer a 2nd Stew you worked with for two seasons.

  2. Week 1 — Verification

    A Fit2Sea agent interviews her, checks STCW + ENG1, and meets her in person in Antibes.

  3. Week 3 — Shortlist

    She's shortlisted to a 50m M/Y looking for a 2nd Stew with service-heavy charter experience.

  4. Week 5 — Placement

    Contract signed. She joins the yacht. Tranche 1 of your commission is released.

  5. Day 90 — Probation cleared

    Captain confirms the reference matched reality onboard. Tranche 2 is released.

Payout structure

Tranche 1
On placement

Released the week the crew member joins the yacht and the placement fee is invoiced.

~40% of total commission
Tranche 2
After probation

Released once probation closes (usually 60–90 days) and the captain confirms your reference held up.

~60% of total commission

Indicative split. Final ratio is set in your referrer agreement.

The fair-play rules

What 'accurate reference' means

Commission is paid when

  • The crew member you referred is placed by Fit2Sea on a yacht.
  • They pass the agreed probation period onboard.
  • Their performance broadly matches what you described in your reference.
  • No material misrepresentation surfaces during onboarding or first rotation.

What we won't do

  • Pay for volume. We'd rather have 5 great referrals than 50 weak ones.
  • Pay if the reference doesn't match reality onboard — your name is on it.
  • Share your referral with the candidate unless you ask us to.
  • Use you as a free CV-sourcing channel. This is a partnership.

Exact commission rates are confirmed when we onboard you as a referrer and depend on the role placed. Discussed openly — no hidden tiers.

Refer a crew member

Send us your first referral

We'll come back to you within 48 hours to confirm your referrer status and walk you through the next step for the candidate.

Submitting only registers your interest as a referrer. We'll be in touch before contacting your candidate.

FAQ

The questions HODs actually ask first

Can I refer crew from my current yacht?

Yes — but use judgement. We won't approach anyone behind their back, and we won't poach from a yacht that's still your employer. Refer crew who are already considering a move, finishing a season, or have asked you for guidance.

Do I need the candidate's permission first?

Not to refer them, but yes before we contact them. When you submit a referral, we hold it until you confirm the candidate is open to a conversation. Nothing is shared with yachts until they apply themselves.

What if two HODs refer the same crew member?

First valid referral on file is the one credited, unless the candidate explicitly names a different referrer when they register. We don't split commissions across two HODs for the same placement.

How am I paid, and is it taxed?

Commission is paid by bank transfer in EUR or GBP, against an invoice you raise to Fit2Sea. You're responsible for declaring it in your country of tax residence. We can provide a referrer statement for your records.

Can I become a full agent later?

Yes. The referral programme is the entry point. HODs who consistently send strong, accurate referrals are invited to join the agent bench, where you handle full matchmaking on assigned roles and earn agent-level commission.

What happens if my reference turns out to be wrong?

You won't earn the second tranche, and a pattern of inaccurate references ends the partnership. There's no fine, no clawback on the first tranche unless misrepresentation was deliberate. Your name is on it — that's the real accountability.

Prefer to be a full agent instead?

If you want to handle the matching yourself — not just refer — apply to join the Fit2Sea agent bench.