About us

Founded by seafarers, for owners and crews.

Vigilant Yacht Management is owned equally by three partners: two experienced officers, one from the engine room and one from the bridge, and a retired Master Mariner who is our Designated Person.

James Mackie

Partner · Technical Director

James is a marine engineer who has been at sea since 2000 and has worked on superyachts since 2017. He holds a Chief Engineer (Unlimited) Certificate of Competency and an HND, which he completed alongside his engineering cadetship.

He has spent his career responsible for the propulsion, power generation and hotel systems that keep vessels running. He leads our technical oversight, refit and new-build work, shares the safety management reviews with Henning, and acts as deputy Designated Person in the rare case that Henning cannot be reached.

Certificate of CompetencyChief Engineer (Unlimited)
EducationHND
At sea since2000
Superyachts since2017

Christopher Heltberg

Partner · Operations & Marine Director

Christopher is a senior deck officer with experience as Chief Officer on yachts. He brings first-hand experience of navigation, deck operations, safety management and crew leadership.

He leads the content of our safety management systems, drills and operational procedures, and acts as deputy Designated Person in the rare case that Henning cannot be reached.

RankChief Officer
DisciplineDeck and navigation
LeadsSMS content, drills and operations

Henning Heltberg

Partner · Designated Person Ashore (DPA)

Henning is a retired Master Mariner with about 30 years at sea. Based ashore in the UK, he is our Designated Person: the named shore contact in each client yacht’s safety management system, and the first call if something goes wrong.

He is completing an accredited Designated Person Ashore course, and shares the safety management reviews with James.

CertificateMaster Mariner (retired)
Sea serviceAbout 30 years
RoleDesignated Person, UK shore-based

To protect our clients and our current and former employers, we never name the yachts, owners or projects we have worked on.

Why we started

To build the yacht management company we always wanted to work with.

From the engine room and the bridge, we have seen management done well and done badly. The difference is almost always whether the people ashore understand the work on board.

We want to be the yacht manager that captains and owners recommend, judged by how well our yachts run, how long their crews stay and how much their owners trust our advice. We look after charter and private yachts both under 500 GT and of 500 GT and over, and we are taking on new clients.

Our commitments

What you can hold us to.

Independence

No commissions, referral fees or rebates from anyone. We are paid by the owner only. The pledge.

Transparency

Published prices, written scopes and pass-through costs at cost, with receipts. Our prices.

III

Honesty about status

We say plainly what we will do. Before we start, we confirm in writing which rules apply to your yacht’s size, flag and use, and exactly what is in our scope.

Discretion

Owner privacy is absolute. We do not name yachts, owners or projects, and we never use confidential information from previous work.

Seamanship

Safety and good practice come first in every recommendation we make.

Respect for crew

We never charge seafarers fees, and we design systems that make the crew’s job easier, not harder.

Talk to the partners.

Every enquiry is answered personally by one of the three partners.

Request a proposal See our prices