MTS Yachts (Mega Yacht Technical Services) is an independent superyacht management and technical services company based at 1129 SE 4th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. For more than 25 years it has worked as the shore-side office for yacht owners and captains: running the accounts, the crew administration, the compliance paperwork and the yard periods so the captain can run the boat. The team is made up of former captains and engineers, led by President Graham Thomson, whose background runs from the British Royal Navy into large-yacht command and engineering.
One office for the whole yacht. MTS covers management, refit, new construction and crew placement under one roof, available 24/7, with support across North America, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Request a consultation
Photo: MTS Yachts
MTS Yachts at a glance
From the company’s own website:
- 25+ years of shore-side management and operational support
- Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Coverage: North America, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, worldwide on request
- 24/7 technical and operational support
- Services: yacht management, refit and repair, new construction, crew placement, plus compliance and consulting work
Yacht management
MTS acts as the yacht’s shore office, either as an ongoing contract or job by job. What it handles:
- Financial management: client bank account setup, monthly reconciliation, invoice checking and payments, budgets and spend control
- Crew administration: contracts, salaries, crew medical insurance, travel, repatriation and leave planning
- Compliance: preparation for class and regulatory inspections, ISM/ISPS where required, radio licences and satellite registrations
- Insurance: policy choice, claims oversight and risk assessment
- Logistics: parts, mail and freight forwarding, vessel paperwork
- Contracts: negotiating shipyard, dockside and warranty agreements
- Maintenance and safety plans, equipment overhaul and replacement
Refit and repair
Photo: MTS Yachts
In the yard or at the marina, MTS represents the owner and captain from planning to delivery, so the crew can keep working or take leave:
- Cost predictions, budgeting and refit account management
- Shipyard and contractor selection, vetting, negotiation and performance monitoring
- On-site representation, daily progress monitoring and quality control
- Regular reporting and owner/captain liaison, with project documents and schedules in the cloud
New construction
Photo: MTS Yachts
As owner’s representative on a new build, MTS works on site with the shipyard from early planning through launch, sea trials and crew training. It keeps the yard and contractors on budget, checks that the design meets the owner’s requirements, manages the build accounts and organises the vessel data, along with safety and security management.
Crew placement
Photo: MTS Yachts
MTS Crew recruits for the yachts under MTS management and for outside clients. Crew placement headhunter Tatiana Faria handles candidate evaluation and matching. Crew can register with MTS Crew here.
Additional services
Chartering, planned maintenance systems, Mini ISM, ISM/ISPS compliance, fire and safety plans, crew training manuals, environmental work, marina and shipyard design, government contracting and expert witness work. See all additional services
The team
- Graham Thomson, President: Royal Navy, yacht captain and engineering background
- Don Lessels, Fleet Manager: more than three decades in international yachting, engineering and refurbishment
- Kelley Flasher, Account Manager: payroll, accounting and financial administration
- Valentina Tischenko, Administrative Services Coordinator
- Tatiana Faria, Crew Placement Headhunter
Contact
Address: 1129 SE 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Phone: +1 954-536-7000 · +1 954-671-0003
Email: info@mtsyachts.com · graham@mtsyachts.com
Website: mtsyachts.com
Frequently asked questions
Q: What does MTS Yachts do?
A: MTS Yachts is a Fort Lauderdale yacht management company. It runs the shore-side office for superyachts (accounts, crew administration, insurance, compliance and logistics) and manages refits and new builds as the owner’s representative. It also places crew.
Q: Where is MTS Yachts located?
A: 1129 SE 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, with support across North America, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
Q: Can MTS Yachts help with just one job instead of full management?
A: Yes. MTS offers its shore support either as an ongoing service or on a per-request basis.
Owner, captain or crew looking for a management company in Fort Lauderdale? Get connected through Zip Yacht.