From glaciologists and historians to media teams, an ambitious expedition will draw on experts that go far beyond normal recruiting requirements. Widely regarded to be the world's largest explorer yacht, 126-metre Octopus, with its 50-strong crew, is a good example of this. Finding the right people, recruiting them and slotting them successfully into the existing team aboard can make the difference between memories that last a lifetime and operational chaos.
The remoteness of these trips only makes this process more critical, as crew will have to operate in professional mode for weeks or months at a time without leave. Even simple manoeuvres become mission critical. It's no wonder, then, that a whole industry has grown up around finding and placing capable crew members.
We spoke to leading captains, brokers and agents to find out what makes the ideal expedition team, and how to avoid costly mistakes. Naturally enough, their advice begins well before you get the candidate into the interview room.
