Life at sea
Practical guidance for working seafarers
These pages are not about your legal rights — those are at Know Your Rights. They are not about finding a job — those are at Careers. They are about what actually happens once you are on board: the routines, the practical decisions, the things nobody told you at maritime college. Whether you are joining your first ship as a cadet or your thirtieth contract as a chief officer, every seafarer has questions about packing, watchkeeping, staying healthy, keeping in touch with family, and managing money across currencies and time zones. This section covers all of it — plainly, practically, and without lectures.
Available now
- Your first contract at sea
What to expect on day one as a cadet or new rating: watchkeeping rotations, cabin etiquette, muster drills, and the STCW training record.
- What to pack
A practical packing list covering documents, workwear, electronics, medicine, and comfort items for long contracts.
- Joining-day checklist
Step-by-step actions from the airport to signing the SEA and completing SOLAS familiarisation on your first day aboard.
- Watchkeeping routines
Bridge and engine watch rotations explained for newcomers: duty schedules, handover procedure, and STCW rest-hour rules.
- Fatigue management
Recognising and managing fatigue at sea using IMO MSC.1/Circ.1598 guidance, sleep hygiene, and the onboard complaint procedure.
- Food and health onboard
MLC food rights, cook certification, water quality, common illnesses, medical kit categories, and PEME requirements.
- Internet and communication
VSAT, Starlink, port WiFi, MLC internet-access rights, and low-bandwidth tips for staying connected with family.
- Money management at sea
Allotment forms, wage slips, remittance options, avoiding impulse spending, and planning for tax and retirement.
Coming soon
- Sending money home
Coming soon
- Loneliness and isolation
Coming soon
- Conflict onboard
Coming soon
- Bullying and harassment
Coming soon
- Shore leave
Coming soon
- Returning home after contract
Coming soon
- Moving ashore
Coming soon