Skipper Knowledge
Practical knowledge for skippers – from liability questions to responsibility on board.
Skipper: meaning, duties, responsibility, and insurance
A skipper is the person who commands a boat or yacht. They take on the nautical command and make the key decisions on navigation, manoeuvres, weather, route, and safety on board. Under German law, the term mostly used for this is **Schiffsführer** (vessel operator). Anyone skippering someone else’s or a chartered yacht should also check how their personal liability is covered.
Skipper liability insurance: when you need it and what it covers
Skipper liability insurance protects you against certain personal liability risks when you skipper someone else’s or a chartered boat. It can become especially important when the charter yacht’s own liability insurance does not pay out, or not in full. Depending on the policy, cover can include personal injury, property damage, and financial loss, as well as claims from crew members, damage to the charter yacht caused by gross negligence, loss of charter hire, and security deposits abroad. In Germany, there is generally no legal requirement to take it out.