Knowledge base for seafarers
Practical evergreen guides: contracts, rights, money, safety. Write to us if you can't find an answer.
A seafarer left without pay or a way home: what to do
Crew abandonment is when a shipowner fails to cover repatriation, leaves a seafarer without necessary maintenance and support, or fails to pay contractual wages for at least two months. In this situation, it is important not to wait and to contact the shipowner, insurer, and competent authorities without delay.
A Seafarer’s Rights When Pay Is Delayed: First Steps
A wage delay should not become “part of the voyage.” A seafarer has the right to timely pay, a clear wage statement, and a fast complaint path without retaliation.
A Ship’s Flag Can Affect Seafarers’ Labour Protections
A ship’s flag determines which state is responsible for supervising labour standards on board. For seafarers, this can matter for wages, repatriation, medical care and compensation.
How to Check a Shipowner Before Signing a Contract
It is a short check of the company, documents, and contract before joining the vessel so you do not sign a weak or doubtful agreement. It helps spot risks before you step on board.
MLC 2006 Sets Standards for Seafarers’ Food and Living Conditions
MLC 2006 covers food, drinking water, accommodation, sanitary facilities and recreational spaces on board ships. The Convention also provides complaint and enforcement mechanisms for these standards.
P&I Insurance: What It Covers for Crew
A simple guide to what P&I insurance is, which crew-related risks it may cover, and what seafarers should check before joining a vessel.
Pre-employment Medical Examination (PEME): What Seafarers Should Know
Pre-employment Medical Examination (PEME) is the check that shows whether a seafarer is fit for work at sea and whether any condition could worsen during the voyage. It is not a formality; it is a basic safety filter for the person and the crew.
PSC detention: what to do when a ship is detained in port
PSC detention is a temporary hold imposed by a port State when an inspector finds serious deficiencies and the ship cannot sail until they are corrected. Below is a simple action plan for the crew, master, and company.
Repatriation under MLC 2006: who pays for the trip home
Repatriation under MLC 2006 is the seafarer’s right to get home in defined cases, and the shipowner usually pays. If the company delays or disappears, the standards still provide a protection mechanism.
Schengen Transit: Which Visas Seafarers May Need
The required document depends on the route: a Type A visa covers travel within an airport’s international transit zone, Type C covers short-term entry into the Schengen area, and Type D applies to longer stays under national rules. Ukrainians with biometric passports may use visa-free travel if they meet its conditions.
Seafarer Injured on Board: What to Do First
After an injury on board, it is important to get medical care and make sure the accident is officially recorded. The ship’s log entry, accident report and medical conclusions help prove that the injury was connected to work on the vessel.
Seafarer Mental Health Support Should Go Beyond Self-Help
IOSH research warns against limiting support to self-help advice and responses to problems that have already developed. Seafarer support should include proactive measures to reduce sources of workplace stress.
Seafarers advised to check documents before joining a vessel
Before joining a vessel, seafarers should check document expiry dates, required qualification certificates and compliance with the requirements of the intended work. An incomplete document package or documents that are no longer valid can postpone clearance and departure.
Seafarers Have the Right to Rest on Board
MLC 2006 sets minimum standards for seafarers’ working conditions, including hours of work and rest. UK guidance on applying these rules requires schedules and hour records on board.
Seafarers Need Crisis Support and Protection From Harassment at Sea
From 1 January 2026, training on preventing violence and harassment at sea became part of basic STCW training. For Ukrainian seafarers, support during crises is also highlighted, including work through war zones and mental health needs.
Seafarers need rest, home contact, and protection at sea
IMO has introduced mandatory seafarer training on preventing and responding to violence and harassment at sea. UK guidance for shipowners on seafarers affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also highlights fatigue, lower morale, access to wages, and connectivity with home.
Seafarers should leave a family contact pack before joining
Family contact at sea should be prepared before joining the vessel: relatives should know whom to contact and what details to provide if communication stops.
Seafarers should receive wage accounts monthly
A wage account shows what a seafarer has earned, what was deducted and how much should be paid net. It should be provided regularly, at intervals not exceeding one month.
The collective agreement and seafarer contract before sailing
A seafarer’s contract may be short and refer to a collective agreement. Before signing, it is therefore important to check both the contract and the document that sets out terms on work, rest, pay and repatriation.
UK MLC: Seafarers Must Get 10 Hours of Daily Rest
For UK ships and certain non-UK ships without a maritime labour certificate, a seafarer’s minimum rest is 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period. A schedule of rest hours must also be posted on board, and records of actual rest hours must be maintained.
War-affected seafarers should have free family communication
IMO recommends steps to reduce the suffering of seafarers and their families, including free access to communication with families for seafarers affected by the conflict. Shipowners are also advised to consider extra rest, shore leave, and better onboard connectivity.
What to Check in a Seafarer’s Contract Before Joining a Vessel
A practical checklist for seafarers before signing: rank, pay, leave, repatriation, collective agreement references, and document copies.