A job offer at sea is only as good as its contract. Two offers with the same headline salary can be very different once you read the details. This guide explains the terms that decide what you actually take home — and the rights that protect you.
Read the salary terms carefully
- On board only vs. including leave. Some wages are paid only for days on board; others include paid leave. This changes your real annual income a lot.
- Basic wage vs. total. Check whether overtime, leave pay and allowances are part of the figure or on top of it.
- Guaranteed overtime. Many contracts include a fixed number of guaranteed overtime hours — know how much and how extra hours are paid.
- Currency and payment. Confirm the currency, how often you are paid and to which account.
Know the rest of the terms
- Contract length and rotation — months on board and the leave that follows.
- Joining and repatriation — who pays for travel to and from the vessel.
- Notice and early termination — what happens if either side ends the contract early.
Your rights under the MLC
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) sets minimum global standards for seafarers: a written employment agreement, regulated hours of rest, decent food and accommodation, medical care, and repatriation. A legitimate employer respects them. If a contract undercuts these basics, treat it as a red flag.
Before you sign
- Read the whole contract — never sign what you have not fully read.
- Ask about anything vague and get answers in writing.
- Compare the pay to the market on our salary page.
- Watch for scams — never pay to be hired. See our guide on avoiding crewing scams.