1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, information generated when you use our services, and information from third-party sources.

• Account registration data — name, email address, and password
• Booking details such as vessel preferences, dates, and passenger counts
• Payment and billing information, processed securely via our payment partners
• Identity verification documents where required by maritime regulations
• Communications you send us via email, chat, or support tickets
• Usage data including pages visited, features used, and interaction patterns
• Device information such as browser type, operating system, and IP address

2. How We Use Your Data

We use the information we collect to provide, maintain, and improve our services. Specifically, we use your data to:

• Process and confirm yacht bookings, charters, and related reservations
• Send booking confirmations, itinerary updates, and service notifications
• Personalize yacht recommendations based on your preferences and history
• Process payments and prevent fraudulent transactions
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Comply with legal obligations including maritime safety regulations
• Analyze usage patterns to improve platform performance
• Send promotional offers with your consent — you may opt out at any time

We will never sell your personal data to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

3. Sharing Your Information

We may share your information with trusted service providers who help us operate the platform. All partners are required to maintain strict confidentiality and data protection standards.

• Yacht Operators & Captains — booking details to facilitate your charter experience
• Payment Processors — financial data via PCI-DSS compliant payment gateways
• Identity Verification Providers — KYC partners for regulatory compliance
• Analytics Providers — aggregated, anonymized data only
• Legal Authorities — when required by law or to protect safety
• Business Transfers — in the event of a merger or acquisition, with prior notice

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. These include AES-256 encryption, TLS 1.3 in transit, role-based access controls, and 24/7 threat monitoring.

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. In the event of a data breach, we will notify affected users promptly in accordance with applicable law.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience and analyze platform traffic.

• Essential Cookies — required for authentication and booking sessions
• Analytics Cookies — help us understand how users interact with our platform
• Preference Cookies — remember your settings across sessions
• Marketing Cookies — used to deliver relevant ads (can be disabled in settings)

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser at any time. Disabling essential cookies may affect platform functionality.

6. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Rectification — correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Erasure — request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Portability — receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection — object to processing for direct marketing
• Restriction — request that we limit how we use your data
• Withdraw Consent — withdraw any consent previously provided

To exercise any of these rights, contact our Data Protection Officer at privacy@yachtconnect.com. We respond to all requests within 30 days.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy and to comply with our legal obligations.

• Account data — retained for 3 years after account deletion
• Booking and transaction records — 7 years for financial compliance
• Communication logs — 2 years for customer support purposes
• Analytics data — anonymized after 26 months
• Legal hold data — retained as required by applicable law

8. Children's Privacy

Yacht Connect is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors.

If we become aware that we have collected data from a child without parental consent, we will delete it promptly. Please contact privacy@yachtconnect.com if you believe this has occurred.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page, notify registered users by email, and display a notice on our platform for 30 days.

Your continued use of Yacht Connect after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Privacy team: privacy@yachtconnect.com
• General support: support@yachtconnect.com