Association of Yacht Support Services

What Association of Yacht Support Services does

The Association of Yacht Support Services (AYSS) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1991 and headquartered in Southampton, Hampshire, UK, that operates as a curated global network connecting superyacht captains, crew, and owners with vetted shore support service providers. With 71 member agents across 45 countries as of 2026, AYSS facilitates port clearance, customs and immigration formalities, provisioning, berth booking, bunkering, and concierge services across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and the Pacific. Membership is gated by a strict vetting process — applicants must be endorsed by three existing Full Members and subscribe to a Code of Ethics and Conduct — and the association is governed by an elected Council with regional representation caps to ensure geographic diversity.

AYSS generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions paid by Full, Associate, and Corporate Members (financial year 1 July to 30 June, with renewals due 1 October), supplemented by a one-time $300 joining fee for new members. Distribution is entirely network-based: superyacht operators locate members via an interactive agent map on ayss.org, supplemented by Associate member directory pages, a Captain's Port Survey quality feedback tool, and an annual "Love From Above" drone video competition culminating at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show. The organization is supported by a lean operational team of approximately 6 staff plus Council members, and runs on standard association infrastructure rather than proprietary technology. Recent strategic activity includes a 2026 pilot Ambassador Program to expand event representation, a new Chairman appointment, and incremental membership growth from 61 to 71 agents.

Name

Association of Yacht Support Services

Legal name

THE ASSOCIATION OF YACHT SUPPORT SERVICES

Website

https://ayss.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Yacht Support Services (AYSS) is a 1991-founded non-profit trade association operating a vetted global network of 71 superyacht shore support agents across 45 countries, connecting captains, crew, and owners with trusted local providers for port clearance, provisioning, and logistics worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Unknown

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Subscriptions: AYSS generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions paid by Full Members, Associate Members, and Corporate Members. The financial year runs from 1st July to 30th June, with subscriptions due on 1st October each year for existing members. New members pay a joining fee of $300 plus proportionate annual subscription.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AYSS is a global non-profit trade association operating a vetted network of shore support agents serving superyacht captains, crew, owners, and management companies across 45+ countries. Members deliver local port services including customs clearance, provisioning, berth booking, bunkering, parts importation, and concierge support, with all agents required to comply with the AYSS Code of Ethics and be endorsed by three existing Full Members before joining.

Product overview

The Association of Yacht Support Services (AYSS) operates as a global network of vetted superyacht shore support agents. The core offering is the AYSS Superyacht Support Network, which connects yacht captains and crew with reputable shore support companies across 45+ countries. The network is complemented by the 2026 AYSS Ambassador Program for event representation, the annual Love From Above drone competition, an interactive global agent map, and an associate members directory. The association also maintains a Captain's Port Survey system for quality assurance. All members must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and undergo vetting before joining.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AYSS Superyacht Support Network The core membership network of vetted superyacht shore support agents spanning 45+ countries across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, North and South America, Pacific, and Asia. Member agents deliver local port services including customs clearance, full provisioning, importation of parts and goods, yacht support containers, berth booking, and concierge support, all under the AYSS Code of Ethics and Conduct.
• AYSS Ambassador Program 2026 pilot program that enables AYSS members to attend and represent the association at global superyacht industry events in exchange for tiered financial contributions, supported by a Digital Ambassador Toolkit including logos, presentation slides, digital badges, social media templates, and QR codes.
• Love From Above Drone Video Competition Annual global drone video competition for superyacht crew that celebrates aerial footage of yachting destinations and crew life, judged by industry professionals including Colin Squire of SuperyachtCaptains.com, with winners announced at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show.
• AYSS Associate Members Directory Public directory of AYSS Associate Member companies providing ancillary services to superyachts, including refit and repair (e.g. Eclipse Marine, Rivergate Marina and Shipyard), legal services (e.g. Benjamin Maltby at Keystone Law), publications (e.g. Superyacht Services Guide, Yachting Matters), and expedition services (e.g. Tahiti Private Expeditions).

Quantifiable outcome

• 61 members in 45 countries providing worldwide coverage
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and minor.

• Professional Yachting Association (PYA)moderateOthersProfessional Yachting Association is listed as a proud member organization alongside AYSS, indicating mutual support and collaboration between industry associations serving the yachting community.
• AcrewmoderateOthersAcrew is listed as a proud member organization, indicating affiliation with AYSS in the yachting industry ecosystem.
• US Superyacht AssociationmoderateOthersUS Superyacht Association is listed as a proud member organization, representing mutual industry collaboration.
• Eclipse MarineminorOthersAssociate member providing superyacht refit and repair services. With over 25 years experience worldwide, Eclipse Marine offers high standard service and finish for superyacht refits or repairs.
• Rivergate Marina and ShipyardminorOthersAssociate member offering award-winning superyacht refit and project management. Rivergate offers accessible boat repairs, marine services, refuelling and all-weather enclosed refit facilities in Brisbane's Trade Coast precinct, Australia.
• Superyacht Services GuideminorOthersAssociate member providing the ultimate yachting directory - the ONLY platform listing Superyacht Captain's and crews RECOMMENDED Services & Suppliers in ports, marinas and destinations around the world. Features over 12,000 listings in their online directory.
• Yachting MattersminorOthersAssociate member providing SuperYacht publications and SuperYacht targeted mail through Colin Squire Publishing.
• Benjamin Maltby - Keystone LawminorOthersAssociate member providing specialist legal advice recommended by AYSS members and endorsed by captains and owners. AYSS members receive one hour of free consultation. Services include dispute resolution, data protection, employment, insurance, and taxation.
• Tahiti Private ExpeditionsminorOthersAssociate member offering unmatched underwater expertise and off-the-beaten track Superyacht expeditions throughout French Polynesia and further afield, including scuba or rebreather diving, snorkeling, photography, and scientific research.
• Colin Squire Publishing / SuperyachtCaptains.comminorOthersColin Squire, Founder of Colin Squire Publishing and SuperyachtCaptains.com, serves as a judge in the annual 'Love From Above' drone video competition, bringing industry expertise to the judging panel.
• Antigua Charter Yacht ShowminorOthersPrestigious industry event where AYSS 'Love From Above' drone video competition winners are announced annually in the first week of December.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• SuperyachtCaptains.com: An online community and content platform for superyacht captains and crew. Its publishing arm (Colin Squire Publishing) partners with AYSS on the 'Love From Above' competition and competes for captains' attention and engagement within the same professional network.
• SYBAss (Superyacht Builders Association): International association representing superyacht shipyards and builders. SYBAss shares the superyacht trade-association model and overlaps with AYSS at the intersection of build, refit and after-sales service delivery to yacht owners and captains.

Broad incumbents

• DNV (Maritime): Global maritime classification society and ship-services incumbent. While it operates in a different niche (technical ship certification rather than shore support), DNV's membership-style vetting, standards regime and global maritime network make it a structural analogue to AYSS at much larger scale.
• International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA): US-based yacht broker association with a similar membership, code-of-ethics and professional-standards structure. It is comparable to AYSS in operating model but focuses on yacht sales and brokerage rather than shore support.
• Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA): Established international association for yacht brokers and charter managers. While its focus is on yacht brokerage rather than shore support, MYBA operates the same kind of membership-and-code-of-ethics model and shares the superyacht professional services ecosystem with AYSS.

Regional players

• Nautilus International: A UK-anchored professional union and association for maritime professionals including superyacht officers. Nautilus overlaps with AYSS on crew-side engagement and professional standards but is geographically concentrated in the UK/Europe.

Direct peers

• Superyacht Services Guide: An online directory of 12,000+ recommended superyacht captains' and crew service providers across global ports. It competes directly with AYSS's curated agent network by offering broader, searchable listings for captains seeking shore support.
• US Superyacht Association: A US-focused superyacht industry trade association. It mirrors AYSS's mission of representing superyacht service providers and is a cross-affiliated peer organization serving a regional (US) subset of the same global superyacht support market.
• Professional Yachting Association (PYA): A membership-based industry association serving yachting professionals. PYA is listed as a mutual 'proud member' organization alongside AYSS and operates a comparable association model for crew and service providers in the superyacht sector.

Others

• Acrew: Recruitment and community platform for superyacht crew. It is listed as a mutual 'proud member' alongside AYSS and addresses an adjacent — but distinct — workforce/professional development segment of the superyacht ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AyssInfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/ayss.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ayss-superyacht-agents
• Instagraminstagram.com/aysscaptain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Yacht Support Services