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How to verify a shipping company

Before accepting a job offer from a shipping company, run a 10-minute verification chain. The goal isn't to find a problem — most operators are real and the offer is straightforward — it's to make sure the company you're about to sail for is who they say they are, owns the vessel they say they own, and is regulated where they say they're regulated. Impersonation scams use real company names + lifted logos against you; the verification kills it in minutes.

Step 1 — Cross-check on Seafarer Index

Search the company on /companies. If they're in the directory, the page lists their type (operator / manager / manning agent), headquarters country, vessel-types focus, and official website. The website on our page is the canonical URL — compare it against the website on the offer email. A small typo (.co vs .com, dashes, "maerks" vs "maersk") is a copycat domain — see /scams/copycat-company-website-warning.

Step 2 — Corporate registry

Look up the company in its headquarters country's corporate registry. Most countries publish a free search:

A real operator has a registered entity with a registration number, a registered address, and directors of record. If the company can't produce any of these, treat it as a scam regardless of how polished the website looks.

Step 3 — Fleet cross-check

Real operators own or manage real vessels. Ask the recruiter to name two vessels in the fleet, including IMO numbers. Then:

Step 4 — P&I + class society

MLC 2006 Standard A2.5.2 + A4.2.1 require every commercial vessel to carry financial security via a P&I club for abandonment + injury / death compensation. Real operators are insured by an International Group P&I Club — Britannia, Gard, Skuld, Steamship Mutual, North, Standard, UK P&I, West, American Club, Japan P&I, London P&I, Shipowners' Mutual, Swedish Club. Ask which P&I club holds the financial-security certificate; a real operator can answer in one message.

Similarly, every SOLAS vessel is in class with an IACS member (ABS / BV / ClassNK / CCS / DNV / IRS / KR / Lloyd's Register / PRS / RINA / RS) or a recognised non-IACS class society. Ask. Cross-check on /reference/iacs-class.

Step 5 — Sanctions screening

If the route involves Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Syria, or Cuba, check the company against the OFAC SDN List (US), UK Sanctions List, EU Consolidated List, and the OFSI Consolidated List. A vessel under sanctions or a company on a designated list can leave you without P&I cover, repatriation, or wages — entire flag fleets have been blacklisted overnight. See /reference/sanctions-compliance.

Step 6 — Reverse-image + identity check

Reverse-image-search the recruiter's LinkedIn profile picture and the company logo. Lifted photos are the most common impersonation signal. Search the recruiter's name on the company's real corporate website (under "Team", "HR", or "Recruitment") — a real recruiter is listed; a scam recruiter is invented.

Step 7 — Tools + escalation

Red flags that should stop the conversation

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