Family emergency at home — owner-paid sign-off
Serious illness, accident, or death in the family. MLC A2.5.1 covers owner-paid sign-off for compelling family reasons.
Immediate action (do this first)
- Tell the Master + the agent immediately. Be specific about the family situation.
- Provide documentation as soon as possible (hospital letter, death certificate, family contact).
- Request immediate sign-off arrangements via the agent.
- If the owner / agent delays: call ISWAN SeafarerHelp (+44 800 012 1004) + the ITF inspector at the current port.
Evidence to save
- Hospital letter / death certificate / treating doctor's contact.
- Family member's signed statement.
- Original SEA + the MLC A2.5.1 reference.
- Photo of the financial-security certificate (MLC A2.5.2).
- Every written request to the Master + agent (timestamped).
Escalation chain
- Master + agent (immediate sign-off request)
- Shipping master / DPA (ISM Element 4)
- P&I club via the agent — P&I typically arranges emergency-travel logistics.
- ISWAN SeafarerHelp + ITF inspector — If sign-off is being delayed without good reason.
- Home-country embassy / consulate — Embassy can assist with emergency travel documents.
Do NOT
- Don't sign anything from the agent that frames the sign-off as 'voluntary' without seeing the cost-coverage clause.
- Don't accept partial repatriation (one leg only) without written commitment for the full journey home.
- Don't pay the agent for the emergency travel — under MLC A2.5.1 the cost is the shipowner's.
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