What documents should a seafarer gather before contacting an ITF inspector?

The core documents are: the signed Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA); monthly wage accounts or payslips; allotment payment receipts or bank statements showing what was actually paid; completed time sheets or voyage record showing hours worked; and the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) if applicable. Photographs of the SEA and wage statements (in case originals are confiscated) are advisable. Store copies ashore with a trusted person or upload to secure cloud storage.

How does a seafarer find an ITF inspector at the next port?

The ITF maintains a global network of over 140 affiliated inspectors accessible through itfseafarers.org — select 'Find an ITF inspector' and enter the port name or country. Inspectors are available 24/7 in major ports. They can board the vessel, inspect wage records, and take direct action including applying for a ship arrest if unpaid wages are documented. ITF assistance is free for all seafarers regardless of ITF membership.

What is the MLC 2006 financial security mechanism?

MLC 2006 Regulation 2.5.2 and Standard A2.5.2 (adopted 2014, in force 2017) require every ship to carry a financial security certificate (repatriation) and a separate financial security instrument for wages and other entitlements. In the event of the shipowner becoming insolvent or abandoning the crew, seafarers can claim directly against the insurer or P&I club listed on the financial security certificate. The claim covers up to four months of outstanding wages and the cost of repatriation.

Can a ship be arrested for unpaid wages?

Yes. Under the 1993 International Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages, unpaid crew wages constitute a maritime lien — the highest priority maritime claim, ranking ahead of mortgages and most other liens. The lien attaches to the ship itself and follows it into any port of a contracting State. An ITF inspector or a lawyer acting for the seafarers can apply to the court for arrest of the vessel while the claim is pending, preventing the ship from leaving port.

ITF wage-claim toolkit

Unpaid wages are one of the most common and serious violations of seafarers' rights. MLC 2006 Regulation 2.2 guarantees regular payment of wages, but enforcement depends on the seafarer taking the right steps in the right order. This guide covers document collection, ITF contact, the letter of demand, and the MLC financial security claim — practical tools for pursuing outstanding pay.

Step 1 — gather documents

· Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA): signed original; contains agreed wage scale, hours of work, leave entitlement, and repatriation clause.
· Wage accounts / payslips: monthly statements showing gross pay, deductions, and net paid. Compare with CBA wage scale for the rank.
· Allotment records: bank statements or remittance receipts proving what was actually received by the seafarer or their family.
· Hours of work/rest records: STCW-required rest-hour records may document overtime due but unpaid.
· CBA: if sailing under a TCC or other ITF-approved agreement, obtain the current wage scale table from itfseafarers.org.
· Keep digital copies ashore; email to yourself or a family member immediately.

Step 2 — contact an ITF inspector

· Use itfseafarers.org 'Find an inspector' tool; inspectors are listed by country and port.
· ITF inspectors have legal authority in most ports to board ships and inspect wage records under national labour law.
· Inspector will calculate the shortfall against the TCC (Total Crew Cost) CBA or the applicable wage scale for the flag State.
· Inspector may contact the shipowner, ship manager, or P&I club directly, and can escalate to industrial action (ITF-affiliated port workers) if the owner refuses to pay.
· All ITF services are free; bring all documents to the first meeting.

Step 3 — letter of demand

· Drafted by the seafarer (or the ITF inspector) and sent by recorded delivery to the shipowner, ship manager, and their P&I club.
· Specify: seafarer name and rank; vessel name and IMO number; period of unpaid wages; amount claimed in USD (or the SEA currency); statutory basis (MLC 2006 Reg 2.2, flag State merchant shipping act).
· Set a 14-day deadline for payment before further action; preserve the right to claim interest under the applicable law.
· Send a copy to the flag State administration and the port State MLC authority.

Step 4 — MLC financial security claim

· Every ship must display the financial security certificate on board (MLC 2006 Standard A2.5.2); note the insurer or P&I club named on the certificate.
· Submit a claim directly to the financial security provider; claims must be accepted for up to four months of wages plus repatriation costs.
· Flag State has an obligation to assist seafarers in making financial security claims; contact the flag State maritime authority if the provider is unresponsive.
· The IMO/ILO Joint Maritime Database (JMD) records abandonment cases; a complaint filed with the JMD creates an international record that affects the shipowner's reputation with port State authorities.

Ship arrest under admiralty jurisdiction

· Crew wage claims are maritime liens under the 1993 Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages — highest priority, ahead of mortgages.
· Application for arrest is made to the port State admiralty court; the ship is detained until security (cash or a P&I club letter of undertaking) is lodged.
· An ITF lawyer in the port or the seafarer's union lawyer files the application; most ITF affiliates have legal networks to handle arrests at short notice.
· Notice of intent to arrest should be given to the P&I club simultaneously — clubs often settle to avoid arrest disrupting the ship's commercial operations.

Sources: MLC 2006 Regulation 2.2 (Wages) and Standard A2.5.2 (Financial security for seafarers); ITF Constitution (International Transport Workers' Federation); 1993 International Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages. See also MLC 2006, SEA, PSC inspection.

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