Як читати морський контракт (SEA): на що звернути увагу, щоб вас не обманули

A Seafarer's Employment Agreement (SEA) defines everything: pay, voyage length, what you are owed and what you owe. Signing it "without reading" is a classic, expensive mistake. Here is what to check.

Key clauses that must be present

• Parties. Who is the employer — the owner or the crewing agency? Name and details.
• Vessel and rank. Vessel name/type, your rank.
• Wages. Base rate, overtime, allowances, currency, pay date, how and to whom it is transferred.
• Contract length. Duration and tolerance (e.g. 4 months ± 1). Check how extensions are handled.
• Hours of work and rest. Must comply with MLC 2006.
• Leave pay. Whether it accrues for each month.
• Repatriation. Who pays for the trip home, and in which cases.
• Medical and insurance. Cover for illness/injury and compensation.

What to watch especially closely

• Overtime: fixed or hourly? Is "guaranteed" overtime already inside the figure, or paid on top?
• What the advertised "salary" includes — gross or net, with or without overtime. The difference can be huge.
• Early sign-off terms — what happens to your pay if the voyage is cut short.
• Fines and deductions — what can be taken off.
• Collective agreement (CBA/ITF). An ITF-covered ship gives you extra protection.

Warning signs

• A contract agreed only verbally, with no signed document.
• Refusal to show you the SEA text before boarding.
• Clauses that conflict with MLC (for example, a fee for employment).
• A gap between what the manager promised and what is on paper.

In practice

Read the whole contract before signing. Ask about anything unclear in writing. Keep your own copy. Remember: under MLC you are entitled to a clear copy of the SEA.

Find contracts from verified owners with transparent terms on seajobs.pro.