About – Crew Training Solutions

WHO WE ARE

Crew Training Solutions (CTS) was established in 2010 by a small team of maritime professionals from the UK and Italy. We have been providing training courses to the yacht and pleasure boat industry for more than 25 years.

We are a proud member of the International Association of Maritime Institutions, an association of colleges and educational organisations involved in providing training for personnel involved in the Yachting, Merchant Navy, Towing and Fishing Industries.

CTS is approved by International Yacht Training (IYT) Worldwide, the MCA and Marshall Islands Flag to offer a range of training solutions/courses including: STCW Master of Yachts & Code Vessels up to 200GT, STCW Officer of the Watch, STCW Basic Safety Training, ICC (International Certificate of Competence) Sail & Power and more

In 2020, we opened our second training centre in Spain, in the heart of Palma de Mallorca. Accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), International Yacht Training Worldwide (IYT), IAMI and Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA).

Crew Training Solutions is the only MCA ATP (Approved Training Provider) in Italy accredited for STCW Basic Safety Training.

We are also the only official Italy-based SQA centre for UKLAP Grade 1 exams, which is a mandatory requirement for issuing of the UK CeC by the MCA / UK Department for Transport.

Our partners SSY Charter and South Seas Yachting have been providing services including yacht management, sales/brokerage, and charter solutions for more than 25 years.

OUR TEAM

Our team of yacht training course instructors have more than 225 years’ collective experience in the maritime sector.

All of our instructors are fully qualified, highly-skilled and have extensive experience at sea.

DANILO DEL TUFO Owner / Founder

Danilo is the founder of Crew Training Solutions and SSY Charters Ltd.
Having previously qualified as a lawyer, he brings the mindset needed to drive the business forward and surrounds himself with high-quality, knowledgeable and skilled colleagues - from highly experienced instructors, to diligent support staff.

JON GEDDES Managing Director / Owner

Jon manages the daily operations of CTS and joined Danilo on the CTS adventure shortly after it was established in 2010, in Naples. His depth of knowledge often exceeds expectations, and his training delivery style has a unique drive, passion and infectious enthusiasm. Jon is a qualified Master of Yachts & Code Vessels and MCA HS-OSC Examiner with over 10 years of experience at sea in the capacity of Master on various vessels of up to 50m LOA.

GIADA DEL TUFO Director (CTS Palma) / Owner

With over 8 years' onboard experience in the Yachting industry and as a well-known, ‘go to’ chef, Giada is now ashore in Palma and focusing on her family whilst supporting the day-to-day logistics, operations and growth of CTS Palma. She knows the industry, she knows the crew and is here to support.

DAVID SMITH Director of UK Operations

David and Jon have worked together professionally for several years. 2023 sees the expansion of CTS into the UK. As Director of UK Operations, David oversees the UK course offerings. David is an experienced, time served MCA Master, Maritime Instructor with a wealth of experience in training delivery. In his spare time, you'll find him with his wife sailing the SE coast of the UK on his personal Yacht.

ANTONIO D'AGOSTINO Instructor & Examiner

Antonio has an extensive background in commercial shipping and Italian cadet training delivery, which affords him the depth of knowledge needed to deliver courses with CTS.
Antonio is recognised as a calm and approachable professional mariner by his students, which makes him the ideal person for the examiner role.

TARYN Lead STCW Trainer (Palma)

Taryn lives on the island of Palma de Mallorca and has oversight on the delivery of our STCW Basic Safety Training courses in Palma, often acting as lead instructor. As a local Fire Service Commander with over 20 years of experience, Taryn helps to ensure the quality of our STCW BST courses. When he's not busy working with CTS, you'll find him either on his own boat with his family or delivering specialist safety training onboard Super Yachts.

DANILO FLORIO Instructor

Danilo Florio grew up around and on boats.
He previously worked as a deckhand on Motor Yachts for around five years before completing his CoCs with CTS in Naples.
Danilo then went on to shadow our lead instructors before being appointed as an instructor himself.
He has a natural ability to put people at ease and deliver training in a logical and clear way.

FRANCESCO PISA Instructor

With over 30 years’ experience in the yacht and commercial sectors of the maritime industry, Francesco brings a calm and open approach to our courses and can draw down on his experience to ensure our learners achieve their goals.
To this day, he remains active as a Master in command of large charter vessels each summer season. This real-world experience gives our students a real insight into their target roles.

ANGELO FERRARA Instructor

Angelo is a passionate sailor with vast experience as crew and in command.
Angelo joined the CTS team as a student many years ago and went on to shadow our Director of Training before being appointed by the IYT and MCA as an instructor.
Angelo spends each season sailing as Captain onboard large yachts before returning to support our courses in Naples during the winter months.

DEAD FRED Fire Course Assistant

Fred has been with us for some time now despite often finding himself in difficult situations and sometimes even on fire. His loyalty to our team/CTS is commendable and he never fails to put a smile on people's faces. He is a qualified natural disaster with over 5 years' experience and holds a Rescue Casualty Manikin (RCM) Certificate of Competence.

WHO WE ARE

OUR TEAM

PALMA DE MALLORCA

NAPLES, ITALY

UNITED KINGDOM