Chess Maritime

Chess Maritime is a maritime consultancy dedicated to safety, security, hygiene and the environment, working with private and commercial yachting as well as merchant shipping. It is led by Christophe Deschodt, a former harbour pilot and cruise ship officer. The team brings together merchant navy professionals, including officers holding Master Class 1 and unlimited Chief Engineer certificates, with experience on cruise ships, ferries, cargo vessels, yachts and tankers. It also includes QHSE managers and a crew manager specialising in the Maritime Labour Convention. The contact office is in Cassis and the website is published in French and English.

The crewing division handles onboard human resources: enrolment, crew planning and deployment, administrative management, payroll and employment documents, insurance, health plans and career support. Chess Maritime acts as the direct contact with the relevant bodies, in particular URSSAF, CMAF, ENIM and the Maritime Affairs administration.

Two operating models are offered to owners. As a maritime labour supply company, the firm is the seafarer's employer, signs the seafarer employment agreement and supplies the personnel under a dual-contract arrangement. As an agent, it handles human resources and administration on the owner's behalf without assuming employer responsibility. Placement under foreign flags is provided with its European partner CHESS & M, based in Malta.

The business is conducted in accordance with French and international maritime labour legislation, including the MLC 2006 convention. The consultancy supports regulatory compliance for vessels: the ISM code for commercial ships above 500 GT, Mini ISM for yachts over 24 metres remaining below that threshold, the ISPS security code and an MLC service covering DMLC parts 1 and 2, certification and designation of the MLC Company Officer. Technical management, the writing of mandatory regulatory documentation and a proprietary management platform, the Chess Management System, complete the offer.