The seafarer's reference atlas

A free, login-optional reference for the world's seafarers — ports, ships, companies, flag states, certifications, glossary, salaries, helplines, forum. No login to browse. No tracking. Every port, ship, company, flag state, term and helpline has a permanent URL.

Start here

• Emergency
  Emergency help

  Unpaid wages, abandonment, medical concerns, piracy, repatriation problems, or urgent welfare issues.

  Find urgent help →
• Joining a ship
  Before you board

  Check your contract, vessel, company, manning agency, documents, wage terms, and emergency contacts before travelling.

  Use the joining checklist →
• Career
  Certificates & career

  Understand STCW, tanker, offshore, yacht, ECDIS, security, medical, deck, engine, and rank progression requirements.

  Plan your certificate pathway →
• Money + contract
  Salary & contract check

  Compare rank and vessel-type salary expectations, spot contract red flags, and prepare questions before signing.

  Check salary and contract risks →

I need help with…

• Unpaid wages
  Evidence + Letter of Demand + ITF + arrest. Step-by-step.
• Abandonment
  MLC A2.5.2 financial security + IMO/ILO Joint Database route.
• Repatriation refused
  Insurer claim, flag-state complaint, PSC detention route.
• Medical care onboard
  MFAG, TMAS, medevac, P&I cover, MLC Reg 4.1.
• Bullying / harassment
  Evidence, DPA route, MLC A5.1.5 complaint, ITF support.
• Contract problem
  SEA breach, side-letters, manning-agency licensing, labour court.
• Fake / fee-charging agency
  ILO C181 + MLC A1.4(5)(b) — fees you should never pay.
• Shore leave denied
  FAL Convention, SID, transit visas, what to do at the gate.
• Piracy / security
  IMB Reporting Centre, UKMTO, MDAT-GoG, BMP5.
• Family emergency
  MLC A2.5.1 owner-paid sign-off, evidence, P&I cover.

I am a…

• New seafarer
  Where to start — training, medical, first CDC.
• Cadet
  Pathway from cadet to OOW; sea-time, courses, exams.
• Deck rating
  OS / AB pathway + cross-up to officer.
• Engine rating
  Wiper / Oiler pathway + cross-up to engineer.
• Deck officer
  OOW → C/O → Master.
• Engineer
  4/E → 3/E → 2/E → C/E.
• ETO / electrical
  STCW III/6 pathway + HV.
• Cruise crew
  Hotel + crowd + crisis management.
• Offshore
  BOSIET, DP, OPITO medical.
• Yacht crew
  MCA / RMI / Cayman yachting endorsements.
• Family member
  Money + emergency + mental health support.
• Abandoned seafarer
  MLC A2.5.2, ISWAN, ITF, IMO/ILO Joint Database.
• Manning agency
  Licensed-agency registry + due-diligence pages.
• Maritime student
  Academy, cadet, first contract.
• No experience
  Where to start with no documents.

I want to…

• Join a ship
  Pre-joining checks, the SEA, familiarisation, what to pack.
• Get / renew a CoC
  STCW, country pathways, training centres, revalidation.
• Plan a voyage
  SOLAS V/34 4-stage plan, distance, ETA, ECDIS, weather.
• Check salary ranges
  Rank × vessel × region, with source + confidence.

Top tools

• Voyage planner
• Passage + bunker
• Visa wizard
• Anchor scope
• COLREG picker