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Crewfolio

It is with great sadness that the yachting industry has learned of the death of crew member Paige Bell, who was found deceased onboard the 43.28-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1146" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Richmond Yachts (Company)">Richmond</a> motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1906" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Far From It43.28m (141'12&quot;)Richmond Yachts2008">Far From It</a> near Harbour Island in the Bahamas on 3 July.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/365552/image/large-b9c4b80726637b327d025c64e7178a1b.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/365552">Bahamian police confirmed the death of South African national Paige Bell, who was found unresponsive onboard the yacht in the engine room. A 39-year-old Mexican national and fellow crew member has since appeared before magistrates in Nassau on suspicion of her murder. He was not required to enter a plea in his first court appearance but was denied bail and remanded to custody until his hearing in November.A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-paige-bell-support-her-family?attribution_id=sl:fb58d4c0-5718-435b-b42e-60d1d4c6c3c9&lang=en_US&ts=1751782973&v=amp14_t2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">GoFundMe page</a> has been set up in honour of Paige by members of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1332" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sweet Emocean35.46m (116'4&quot;)Azimut Yachts2005">Sweet Emocean</a> crew, where she had worked until December 2024. The tribute, shared by Captains Frank Prest, Stephan Coetzer and Arnold Heins, along with the owner’s representative and former colleagues, describes Paige as “more than a teammate, she was family.”While the full circumstances of Bell’s death remain under investigation, the incident has reignited attention around longstanding concerns regarding safeguarding and recruitment standards within the yachting sector.A <a href="https://www.change.org/p/make-criminal-background-checks-a-legal-requirement-to-apply-to-seafarers-internationally" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">petition</a> calling for mandatory criminal background checks for all seafarers has gained renewed traction. Originally launched over two years ago by former yacht crew member and founder of recruitment agency <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8293" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crewfolio (Company)">CREWFOLIO</a>, Jessie Frost, the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/make-criminal-background-checks-a-legal-requirement-to-apply-to-seafarers-internationally" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">petition</a> advocates for a standardised, global vetting protocol to enhance safety onboard. The <a href="https://www.change.org/p/make-criminal-background-checks-a-legal-requirement-to-apply-to-seafarers-internationally" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">petition</a> has quickly gained traction, with many crew, welfare advocates and safety professionals voicing support.&nbsp;“It’s about creating long-term, systemic change,” explained Frost. “We have background checks in place for so many other safety-critical professions, so there’s no reason why yachting should be exempt.” At the time of publication, the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/make-criminal-background-checks-a-legal-requirement-to-apply-to-seafarers-internationally" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">petition</a> stands at nearly 5,000 verified signatures. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/301013/image/large-91a68b857ce4af77efb70b69288901de.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/301013">In light of recent events, Frost has placed all <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8293" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Crewfolio (Company)">CREWFOLIO</a> recruitment activities on hold temporarily, announcing a new internal policy: from now on, all successful crew placements will undergo a certified global background check, funded directly by the agency.“We’re committed to doing this properly,” Frost said. “If I’m calling for reform, I need to demonstrate what that looks like in practice.” She is also advocating for these checks to eventually become part of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), akin to the requirement for STCW certification or the ENG1 medical certificate. “This shouldn’t just be a nice-to-have. It should be a global requirement.”While international frameworks such as the IMO’s STCW Convention and the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) establish minimum standards for seafarer training and working conditions, neither currently mandates criminal background screening.In the United States, the Coast Guard requires that seafarers undergo a criminal background check as part of the process of obtaining a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). However, this requirement applies only to individuals seeking a credential and does not apply to all seafarers working on vessels in U.S. waters.The <a href="https://www.change.org/p/make-criminal-background-checks-a-legal-requirement-to-apply-to-seafarers-internationally" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">petition</a> by Frost urges industry regulators and stakeholders to implement standardised, ongoing background checks to enhance safety, protect crew and passengers and uphold the maritime sector’s reputation.Across the fragmented, privately managed superyacht fleet, standards vary widely. While many major brokerage houses and crew agencies conduct their own vetting procedures, there is no universal protocol in place.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/301015/image/large-fc3bb6cf80b7d7f220a53f4271ddba53.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/301015">The past year has seen a rise in discussions for greater transparency and accountability within yachting, particularly in light of reports around harassment, abuse and mental health challenges among crew. Crew members have increasingly spoken out about harassment, inappropriate conduct and a lack of reporting pathways onboard. While organisations such as ISWAN and Safer Waves offer confidential support, access remains inconsistent.“There is so much more we could be doing to protect vulnerable crew,” said Frost. “The more we talk about this and take action, the better the industry becomes for everyone.”As investigations into the death of Paige Bell continue, many in the yachting sector are taking time to reflect on what more can be done to ensure crew safety, enforce standards, and uphold the values of professionalism and care at sea. While it remains to be seen whether the incident will result in concrete policy changes, there is a growing sense that maintaining the status quo may no longer be an option.At the time of writing, the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-paige-bell-support-her-family?attribution_id=sl:fb58d4c0-5718-435b-b42e-60d1d4c6c3c9&lang=en_US&ts=1751782973&v=amp14_t2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">GoFundMe</a> campaign established in Paige Bell’s memory has raised more than $50,000, with messages of support from across the yachting community.&nbsp;SuperYacht Times will continue to report as the investigation unfolds and as the industry explores pathways to improving safety, accountability and welfare for all crew.

Paige Bell: Petition calls for mandatory crew background checks

A petition has renewed calls for mandatory crew background checks after the death of stewardess Paige Bell in the Bahamas.