What to keep on your phone

PDFs, photos, encrypted notes, family WhatsApp groups, ISWAN contact card — the offline pack that travels with you.

What it is

A short list of files and contacts to store on the phone — both on the device and in a cloud account you can access from another device — so that even a stolen original passport doesn't end a contract.

Who needs it

Every seafarer.

When it is checked

• When something goes wrong.

Common mistakes

• Single Google or iCloud account on a phone you can't unlock from anywhere else.
• Documents on phone but no cloud backup — phone dies, documents gone.
• ISWAN, ITF, agent, embassy numbers not saved as contacts (so search doesn't find them in a hurry).

Last verified 15 days ago