Photo 1
Fond hero — paysage marin en navigation
hero-passage.jpg  ·  1920 × 1080 px min  ·  tons sombres, opacité 45%
Professional Maritime Services

Every passage.
Every service.
One standard.

Yacht delivery, captain services, purchase expertise, own boat tuition, expedition and bluewater preparations, seasonal management — for owners who require the highest professional standard.

Your vessel,
in expert hands

NMS provides professional delivery and captain services for private yacht owners, shipyards, and charter operators — for monohulls and multihulls, motor and sailing vessels, including demanding passages, worldwide.

We take time to understand each owner’s expectations before every passage. Our aim is to make every contract straightforward: clear scope, transparent pricing, and a delivery carried out with the same care you would give your vessel yourself.

Operating throughout the Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Pacific, NMS is the specialist of choice for owners and builders who require captain and crew with the qualifications, miles, and technical depth to match — not only experts in navigation, but also highly skilled in mechanics and diagnostics, capable of anticipating and addressing problems before they become passages.

Photo 2
Séparateur — mouillage ou quai, ambiance chaude
harbour-scene.jpg  ·  1600 × 600 px min

Full service offering

Beyond delivery —
complete maritime expertise

NMS offers a full spectrum of professional maritime services, from single-passage deliveries to purchase consultancy, personal coaching, and seasonal management.

Expertise

Pre & Post‑Purchase Expertise & Yacht Preparation

An experienced Master with surveying training identifies issues invisible to an untrained eye — frequently saving significant sums.

Learn more →
Coaching

Own Boat Tuition & Coaching

Personalised training on your own vessel, from basic seamanship to offshore passages and round-the-world preparation. English or French.

Learn more →
Delivery

Ocean & Coastal Delivery

Professional delivery of sailing and motor vessels on passages of any length — fully crewed, insured, and documented.

Learn more →
Captain on demand

Delivery Captain & Skippage

An experienced professional skipper for private passages, owner-aboard voyages, transoceanic crossings, and seasonal repositioning.

Learn more →
Newbuild

Newbuild & Shipyard Delivery

Collection and delivery of new yachts from shipyards. Handover management, sea trials, and full commissioning checklist verification.

Learn more →
Management

Seasonal Yacht Management

Flexible professional support for owners without a full-time crew: repositioning, shipyard coordination, and technical oversight for agreed periods.

Learn more →

Service in detail

Pre & Post‑Purchase Expertise

An impartial, technically rigorous assessment by a qualified Master with marine surveying training. Before you buy, before you sign, before you sail.

Photo 3
Inspection / expertise technique
prepurchase.jpg
600 × 800 px min
Pre-purchase

Before you commit

A pre-purchase assessment by NMS covers the full picture: hull condition and structure, rig, engine and mechanical systems, electrical installation, electronics, safety gear, sails, and documentation. The aim is not simply to list defects, but to give you a clear and honest reading of the vessel’s condition, its maintenance history, and what to expect in the next season or offshore passage.

  • Hull, deck, and structural inspection
  • Rig: standing and running rigging, mast, chainplates
  • Engine, gearbox, seacocks, and all mechanical systems
  • Electrical: installation, batteries, alternators, navigation lights
  • Electronics: chartplotters, AIS, VHF, SSB/Iridium, autopilot
  • Sails: condition, age, UV damage, batten pockets
  • Safety equipment: life raft service date, EPIRB, flares
  • Documentation: flag registration, CE marking, insurance, title
  • Written condition report delivered within 48 hours
Post-purchase & Preparation

After you sign

NMS can coordinate and oversee all remedial work, manage contractors, shipyard periods, preparation of the vessel for a specific season or passage — Ensuring readiness of the vessel including spare parts, chart folios, and safety equipment.

  • Remedial work coordination and contractor management
  • Shipyard liaison and supervision during haulout periods
  • Passage preparation: Spare parts, safety gear, chart folios
  • Systems familiarisation for new owners
  • Commissioning checklist verification on new builds
Why it matters: An assessment by an experienced Master with surveying training identifies issues that a formal survey may not — operational problems, maintenance patterns, rig fatigue, and passage readiness. It frequently returns far more than its cost in negotiating leverage, avoided surprises, and peace of mind on the first offshore passage.
Photo 4
captain-portrait.jpg
600 × 900 px min
Philippe
Lead Captain & Marine Surveying Specialist

Over 25 years at sea in professional command, across the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific, and Mediterranean. Qualified to MCA Master 200 GT Unlimited. IIMS Marine Surveying qualification in progress. Trilingual: English, French, Spanish.

MCA Master 200 GT RYA Yachtmaster Ocean AEC1 & AEC2 IIMS Surveying (in progress)
Discuss your project →

Service in detail

Own Boat Tuition & Coaching

Professional coaching on your own vessel, tailored to your level, your boat, and your objectives. From first passages to offshore preparation and round-the-world programmes.

Photo 5
Coaching / barre / navigation
tuition.jpg
600 × 800 px min
Foundation

Seamanship & Boat Handling

For new or recent owners who want to build confidence on their own vessel, understand their systems, and develop safe, competent seamanship.

  • Basic sail trim and boat handling
  • Anchoring, mooring, marina manoeuvres
  • Chart work, tides, and passage planning
  • VHF radio procedure and basic weather
  • Systems: engine checks, bilge, electrics
Offshore

Offshore & Passage Preparation

For experienced day sailors preparing for their first offshore passages or crossings. Structured, methodical, demanding when necessary.

  • Night sailing and watch systems
  • Heavy weather sail plan and tactics
  • Passage planning and weather routing
  • Rig inspection and emergency procedures
  • MOB, EPIRB, flares, life raft deployment
Blue Water

Transoceanic & Round-the-World Preparation

For owners planning major crossings or extended voyaging programmes. Thorough, technical, grounded in real offshore experience.

  • Ocean passage planning and routing
  • Celestial navigation (sun and star sights)
  • SSB / satellite comms, weather fax
  • Vessel readiness for extended voyaging
  • Crew management and watchkeeping
  • Customs, clearances, provisioning strategy
Technical

Systems & Engine Management

For owners who want to genuinely understand and manage their vessel’s mechanical and electrical systems — essential for bluewater independence.

  • Diesel engine: fuel, cooling, exhaust, belts
  • Electrical: battery banks, alternators, inverters, solar
  • Watermaker operation and maintenance
  • Bilge and seacock systems
  • Fault diagnosis and emergency repairs at sea
Languages & format: All programmes delivered in English or French. Spanish on request. Conducted aboard your own vessel, at a location and pace suited to your objectives — from one day to a full week or more.
Photo 4
captain-portrait.jpg
600 × 900 px min
Philippe
Lead Captain & Tuition Specialist

Over 25 years in professional command and offshore sailing. Extensive experience as a passage-making skipper across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific. Trilingual English, French, Spanish. Own boat tuition aboard your vessel, at your pace.

MCA Master 200 GT RYA Yachtmaster Ocean STCW Full English · Français · Español
Discuss your programme →

Delivery programmes

Two standards.
One uncompromised approach.

Crew qualifications are matched to passage complexity. Every NMS delivery — coastal or ocean — is held to the same protocols and standards of care.

Coastal / Offshore

Short & Coastal Delivery

Up to about 600 nm ·

  • Examples: Intra-Caribbean, Bahamas/US, Aegean, Western Med…
  • Minimum 2 crew (skipper + mate) — 3 on demanding passages
  • Pre-departure readiness, systems check and checklist
  • Progress reports and condition report on arrival
  • Full liability insurance carried by all NMS crew
Minimum crew qualifications
Skipper: RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore
Mate: RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal
Ocean

Ocean & Transatlantic Delivery

600+ nm · Open ocean · Larger vessels · Complex or demanding vessels

  • Examples: Transatlantic, transpacific, Panama Canal, Indian Ocean…
  • Minimum 3 crew — 4 or more on long-haul passages
  • Full pre-departure 100-point checklist, protective cladding below decks
  • Spreader wrapping, upholstery protection, bilge and rig inspection
  • Weather routing with shore-side meteorological support
  • Satellite tracking throughout passage
  • Detailed condition and technical report on arrival
Minimum crew qualifications
Skipper: RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean or MCA Master 200 GT Unlimited / Master 500 GT
Mate: RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore minimum

Note: regardless of distance, any vessel that is technically complex, carries significant systems, or is of unusual configuration may be classified as an Ocean delivery at NMS’s discretion.

Delivery protocol

A process you can
rely on completely

Every NMS delivery follows the same structured protocol, from initial contact to condition report at destination.

01

Pre-departure

On joining the vessel, NMS crew conduct a full systems check against a 100-point checklist — pushpit to pulpit, bilge to masthead. Vulnerable woodwork and upholstery are encased in protective cladding. Spreaders are wrapped to prevent sail chafe on downwind passages. Any non-serviceable item is reported immediately to be rectified before departure when practical.

02

During passage

NMS crews sail 24 hours a day on ocean passages, maintaining a structured watch system. The skipper’s judgment at sea is never overridden. When conditions warrant seeking shelter, the yacht heads for port — we sail conservatively and never over-stress rigs, sails, or engines. Owners receive regular progress updates.

03

On arrival

The skipper completes a detailed condition and systems report covering the full passage and the vessel’s state on arrival. Any issues noted during delivery are documented. The vessel is left clean and secure. Owners receive a comprehensive dossier including the logbook, condition report, and maintenance notes for follow-up.

Photo 6a
Pré-départ
pre-departure.jpg · 800×800 px min
Photo 6b
En navigation
underway.jpg · 800×800 px min
Photo 6c
Arrivée
arrival.jpg · 800×800 px min

Protocols & Standards

What we check.
What we protect.

Our pre-departure and in-passage protocols are derived from commercial maritime standards and refined over many years of offshore delivery experience. Non-exhaustive lists.

Systems verification

Pre-departure checklist

  • Engine, gearbox, cooling and exhaust systems
  • Standing and running rigging, furlers, blocks
  • Electrical: batteries, alternators, inverters, navigation lights
  • Electronics: chartplotters, AIS, VHF, SSB/Iridium
  • Safety equipment: life raft, EPIRB, flares, MOB gear
  • Bilge pumps, seacocks, through-hulls
  • Fuel and water systems, watermaker
  • Anchoring and docking equipment
Vessel protection

Pre-departure preparation

  • Protective cladding on all below-decks woodwork and upholstery
  • Spreader boots wrapped and taped against sail chafe
  • Loose gear secured or stowed
  • Inventory recorded and photographed
  • ...
  • Chart folio and passage plan prepared and filed
  • Float plan communicated to shore contact
Safety & weather

Passage management

  • Conservative sail plan — no over-stressing rigs or sails
  • Structured watch system on ocean passages
  • Continuous weather monitoring
  • Shore-side met routing support available on request
  • Satellite tracking: position reported several times a day
  • Skipper judgement at sea is final and not questioned
  • Condition and technical report delivered on arrival

Operating zones

Here, there and
beyond every horizon

NMS operates throughout the Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Pacific. Our skippers have direct, current knowledge of conditions, regulations, and clearance requirements in each zone.

Caribbean · America

Bahamas, US East Coast & Central America

Exumas, Abacos, Turks & Caicos. USCG-compliant passages. Customs and cruising permit expertise.

Inter-Caribbean operations

Caribbean

BVI, USVI, Grenada, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Martin. Inter-island deliveries and seasonal repositioning.

Transatlantic routes

Atlantic crossings

Eastbound and westbound. Canaries and Cape Verde passages. Caribbean / Europe. Shipyard deliveries from South and North Europe.

European operations

Mediterranean

Western and Eastern Med. France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia. Shipyard deliveries from Atlantic and North Europe.

Extended range

Pacific

From one ocean to the next — and back. Panama Canal transits, US Pacific Coast, Polynesia, Hawaii, South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia…

On request

Global

High latitudes, Indian Ocean, East Africa, South Atlantic. Complex or long-haul repositioning programmes evaluated case by case.

Qualifications & certifications

Credentials that
speak for themselves

NMS selected captains and crews hold internationally recognised commercial certifications across multiple flag states, combined with full STCW compliance and engineering qualifications rarely found in the delivery sector.

MCA Master 200 GT Unlimited
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean & Offshore
Endorsements: Malta, France…
OOW 500 GT — Master 500 GT
For larger yachts and commercial vessels
AEC1 & AEC2 Engineering Certificates
Yacht check, preparation, troubleshooting
STCW Full Compliance
GMDSS · Medical Care · Fire Fighting · Polar Water certified
Marine Surveying — IIMS
Yachts & Small Craft
EU Passport · US B1 Visa
Seaman’s books: Malta, France, St Kitts
NMS crew qualification policy: All selected NMS skippers hold a minimum of RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore for coastal and short offshore passages. For ocean passages, transatlantic and transpacific crossings, and vessels over 50 ft — or any vessel deemed technically complex — the minimum qualification is RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean or MCA Master 200 GT Unlimited and above. First mates on ocean passages hold a minimum of RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore. All crew hold current professional liability insurance.
Photo 7
testimonial-bg.jpg · 1600×500 px min · opacité 15%
“Our yacht was delivered in immaculate condition, with a thorough technical report that identified two minor issues we weren’t aware of. The pre-departure protocol was exactly what we’d hoped for — professional, systematic, and reassuring.”
Private owner — Sunreef 60 · Palma de Mallorca to Nassau

Get in touch

Ready to discuss
your next project?

Whether you need a delivery, a captain, a pre-purchase assessment, or a tuition programme — contact us with your details and we’ll respond with a clear scope and a transparent quote, usually within 48 hours.

info@nmsmaritime.com
Request a quote Call us

English · Français · Español  ·  Available worldwide