Seafarer guides — by country

Each guide covers the regulatory authorities, the training pathway for officer and rating ranks, the standard employment contract, manning-agency licensing, welfare schemes, tax status, and country-specific helplines. The 24 guides below cover roughly 90% of all working seafarers.

Looking for a different topic? See the reference hub, the help section, or the crew-change visa matrix.

• Philippines
  MARINA, DMW, OWWA, AMOSUP — the world's largest seafarer-supplying nation.
• India
  DG Shipping, IMU, NUSI, MUI — Class IV/III/II progression and 182-day tax rule.
• Ukraine
  Maradmin, MTWTU — war-era repatriation and document considerations.
• Indonesia
  DGST/Hubla, KPI, BPJS — ANT/ATT certificate progression.
• China
  MSA China, COSCO/CN crewing, Chinese tax residency, common foreign flags.
• Myanmar
  DMA Myanmar, political-risk repatriation, common Asia trades.
• Bangladesh
  DoS Bangladesh, GP-rating training, common gulf trades.
• Pakistan
  MMD Pakistan, Karachi training centres, NRP tax status.
• Sri Lanka
  Mercantile Marine Branch, post-2022 economic considerations, Colombo training.
• Romania
  Romanian Naval Authority, EU recognition, Constanta training, Black Sea considerations.
• Russia
  Rosmorrechflot, post-sanctions considerations, recognised flags.
• Vietnam
  Vinamarine, VMU Haiphong, MOLISA — fast-growing Asian supplier on bulk and container.
• Thailand
  Marine Department, Burapha Maritime, common offshore Gulf trades.
• Malaysia
  JLM, ALAM, MISC and Bumi Armada offshore — Strait of Malacca hub.
• Poland
  Maritime Office Gdynia/Szczecin, UMG and AM Szczecin, EU passport, Polsteam.
• Georgia
  MarAdmin, Batumi State Maritime Academy — fast-growing Black Sea supplier.
• Kenya
  KMA, Bandari Maritime Academy, Mombasa Blue Economy initiatives.
• Tanzania
  TASAC, Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute, Indian Ocean MoU.
• Egypt
  EAMS, AAST Alexandria, Suez Canal Authority, Egyptian Trade Union — Suez transit and Mediterranean MoU.
• Türkiye
  DGMA, ITU Maritime Faculty + Piri Reis, Arkas/Yardimci employers, Black Sea + Mediterranean MoU.
• Greece
  HRMM, AEN academies, PNO union, NAT insurance — world's largest merchant fleet by tonnage.
• Mexico
  SEMAR, FIDENA Tampico, Pemex/TMM, Gulf of Mexico + Pacific cabotage.
• Brazil
  DPC, CIAGA Rio + CIABA Belém, Petrobras/Transpetro, Campos + Santos Basin offshore.
• Mauritius
  MMA, regional Indian Ocean ship-management hub (BSM, Anglo-Eastern), Port Louis.
• Crew-change visa matrix
  Port country × seafarer nationality — visa requirement lookup.
• STCW training centres
  Accredited academies, METCs, and maritime universities in PH, IN, UA, ID, CN, RO, RU and more.
• Manning agency registry
  DMW, DG Shipping, Maradmin, and DGST licensed agencies — filter by country and licence status.