What to photocopy before joining

Hard-copy and phone-photo backup list — the difference between a stressful sign-off and a stuck one.

What it is

A standardised backup list of every document you need to be able to produce on a phone or piece of paper if the original is lost, withheld, or in a sealed envelope onboard.

Who needs it

Every seafarer.

When it is checked

• When you need a backup.

Common mistakes

• All copies kept in one wallet — if the wallet goes, so does the backup.
• Phone photos only, with no cloud backup.
• Black-and-white photocopies where the document requires colour (e.g. yellow card).

Last verified 15 days ago