Superyacht Training Academy joins NetEd Group

January 2026: As a hub for the thriving luxury maritime sector, South Africa is well-positioned to capitalise on growing demand. Fuelled by this momentum, the NetEd Group has announced its acquisition of the Superyacht Training Academy – a step towards strengthening South Africa’s position as a key global contributor of highly skilled superyacht professionals, while expanding access to accredited maritime education and sustainable career pathways in the international luxury yachting sector.

Smooth sailing for a burgeoning industry
The superyacht industry, a large component of the global luxury tourism sector, has seen robust expansion over the last year with Coherent Market Insights projecting over 11% in annual growth. Having reached a market value of $21.6 billion in 2025, the industry represents considerable socioeconomic potential, with South Africa among the top role-players in this talent-driven market.

While boat-building accounts for a significant proportion of this value chain, talent in the form of superyacht crew is equally critical. It is estimated that South Africa is one of the world’s leading sources of talent, with thousands of crew members appointed annually and approximately 90% of locally trained students achieving placement in well-paid international roles on board.

It is against this backdrop that private education group NetEd acquired the Cape Town-based Superyacht Training Academy (SYTA), a specialist maritime institute offering internationally accredited complete training for professional yacht crew. 

NetEd is backed by EXEO Capital and currently serves over 23,000 students across South Africa through institutions like Eduvos, Isa Carstens® Academy, and Stellenbosch Business Institute. 

SYTA is a premier maritime training institute based in Cape Town. The institution currently boasts the highest employment rate among its peers, demonstrating that employability goes beyond accreditation and paperwork and extends to meaningful skills development and training for careers at sea. 

Ben Shaw, M&A Executive at NetEd, says that the investment represents a key opportunity to broaden education options and improve the employability of students.

“We were impressed by the calibre of SYTA graduates, and we believe SYTA’s holistic training shapes strong working professionals with highly transferable skills. These skills include teamwork, problem solving, decision making, resilience and adaptability – all critical for an AI-enabled world. There is lasting value in this form of practical, globally relevant education and so the choice to invest was both intuitive and decidedly future-forward.”

Tailwinds for superyacht trainees
 This investment aligns with a growing need for vocational and trade-based skills within the South African economy. This was an important part of the decision-making process for the NetEd team, given SYTA’s offering of practical training and career pathways into the world of high-end hospitality.

Furthermore, SYTA is strategically positioned at the V&A Waterfront, and with the recent announcement of the V&A’s new superyacht basin which includes six dedicated superyacht berths, this move is well-timed. The development is expected to further increase superyacht visits to the area, building on the strong growth recorded since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. This forthcoming investment into the necessary infrastructure also stands to set Cape Town up as an industry development destination. 

With a new cohort of tourists being attracted to South African shores, this will in turn provide the regional economy with a welcomed boost and a renewed impetus for the Blue Economy.  As CEO of SYTA, Stuart Loxton explains: “The status of the V&A precinct continues to grow, and its working dock facilities are indicative of the quality and expertise that the local maritime industry has and can build.”

Crewed for career success
Propelled by these developments, NetEd is working closely with the SYTA team to meet the anticipated increase in demand for crew members such as stewards, stewardesses, deckhands and chefs. Successful completion of SYTA’s courses provides excellent prospects for employment anywhere in the world where superyachts operate.

“By its nature, providing top-level hospitality on superyachts is hard work with commensurate pay. Most junior crew stay in the industry for three years so there is massive demand for new crew every season.  The choice to work both seasons – in different hemispheres – is the individual’s. We highly recommend doing this to secure tenure. Ultimately, graduates return to South Africa with experience, skills, confidence, and savings,” says Loxton. 
 

Photo by Chris Warren on Unsplash