Chinese seafarer guide

Quick reference

· China MSA (Maritime Safety Administration) — CoC issuance & STCW endorsements: msa.gov.cn · Hotline +86 10 6529 2114
· China Seamen's Union (CSU) — ACFTU affiliate, welfare & CBA: chinaseamen.org.cn
· ISWAN SeafarerHelp 24/7 multilingual, free: +44 800 012 1004

China is one of the world's largest seafarer-supplying nations, with an estimated 50,000–100,000 active Chinese seafarers serving on both Chinese-flag and foreign-flag vessels. Chinese seafarers are heavily concentrated on Asian trade routes and aboard Chinese-controlled tonnage operated by state carriers such as COSCO and China Merchants, though the officer pipeline increasingly supplies Western European and Greek operators. The People's Republic is on the IMO White List and issues STCW-compliant Certificates of Competency through a class-based progression system administered by the China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA).

Regulatory authority

China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA). Under the Ministry of Transport. Administers STCW implementation, issues CoC and Certificates of Proficiency, and licences training institutions. Provincial and municipal MSA branches — including the prominent Shanghai MSA, Tianjin MSA, and Dalian MSA — handle day-to-day CoC applications and examinations. The MSA also issues Endorsements Attesting Recognition (EAR) for Chinese seafarers serving under foreign-flag vessels.
Ministry of Transport (MoT). Sets overall maritime policy, including the Regulations on Seafarers (国家海事局海员管理规定) which govern MSA operations, CoC classes, training standards, and the crewing service permit system for manning agencies.

CoC class system

China uses a Class 1–5 Certificate of Competency progression for both deck and engine departments, broadly aligned to STCW:

Class 1 (一类). Master or Chief Engineer on vessels of unlimited tonnage / unlimited power. Equivalent to STCW Reg II/2 (Master) or III/2 (Chief Engineer).
Class 2 (二类). Chief Officer or Second Engineer on unlimited tonnage vessels; also Master / Chief Engineer on near-coastal or restricted tonnage above a defined threshold.
Class 3 (三类). Officer of the Watch (OOW deck) on large vessels; Second Officer/Third Officer (engine) on large vessels. Broadly equivalent to STCW II/1 or III/1 OOW level.
Class 4 & 5 (四类, 五类). OOW on progressively smaller vessel categories, including near-coastal (近海) and inshore (沿海) vessels. Class 5 is entry-level watchkeeping officer on small vessels.
Rating Certificates of Proficiency (CoP). Issued for ratings forming part of a navigational watch (STCW Reg II/4), Able Seafarer Deck (II/5), rating forming part of an engineering watch (III/4), and Able Seafarer Engine (III/5).

Maritime training institutions

Officer-track education is delivered by MSA-accredited maritime universities offering 4-year nautical science (航海技术) or marine engineering (轮机工程) degree programmes, followed by a compulsory 12-month supervised cadetship (实习) aboard a qualifying vessel:

· Shanghai Maritime University (SMU / 上海海事大学) — largest and most internationally recognised; strong STCW and English-language programme.
· Dalian Maritime University (DMU / 大连海事大学) — co-equal with SMU; major research and simulation facilities; historically the dominant supplier to COSCO.
· Jimei University (集美大学) — Xiamen; significant maritime faculty supplying regional operators.
· Wuhan University of Technology (武汉理工大学) — inland-waterway and ocean-going engineering programmes.
· Guangzhou Maritime College (广州航海学院) — major southern China feeder institution.
· Tianjin Maritime College (天津海运职业学院) and regional vocational colleges — supply GP ratings and junior officers.

Rating-rank entry is available via MSA-accredited rating training centres without a full degree, obtaining a CoP after completing the relevant STCW basic safety and watchkeeping training. English-language proficiency (STCW Reg II/1, Table A-II/1 requires bridge team communication) is a notable bottleneck for Chinese officers seeking Class 3+ CoC for foreign-flag service.

Wages and the China Seamen's Union

The China Seamen's Union (CSU) operates under the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and is the primary union body. It has concluded collective bargaining agreements with some Chinese-flag operators, though independent collective bargaining rights are structurally limited under Chinese labour law. Typical indicative wages for Chinese seafarers on international voyages:

· Master / Chief Engineer (tanker) — approx. USD 9,000–13,000/month.
· Chief Officer / First Engineer — approx. USD 6,000–9,000/month.
· OOW (Officer of the Watch) / Third Engineer — approx. USD 4,000–6,000/month.
· Able Seafarer / GP Rating — approx. USD 1,200–2,500/month.

Domestic Chinese-flag wages are generally lower than IBF Total Crew Cost (TCC) minima. Chinese seafarers on foreign-flag ITF/IBF-covered vessels typically receive wages at or above the IBF TCC scale. COSCO, China Merchants Shipping, and China Shipping Group are the major domestic employers.

Manning agencies

Manning agencies operating for Chinese seafarers must hold an MSA-issued Crewing Service Permit (船员服务业许可证). Established and MSA-licensed agencies include:

· COSCO Crewing — internal crewing arm of COSCO Group.
· Sinocrew Maritime — Shanghai-based; supplies multiple foreign-flag operators.
· Hua Win Shipping — Tianjin; broad ship-type coverage.
· Tianjin Marine Service — Tianjin; bulk and tanker focus.
· China Merchants Crew Management — internal crewing arm of China Merchants.

As with all MLC 2006 Regulation 1.4 requirements, charging seafarers placement fees is prohibited for foreign-flag deployment. Verify the agency's Crewing Service Permit via the MSA online registry before signing any contract.

Income tax for Chinese seafarers

Chinese resident seafarers are subject to Individual Income Tax (IIT) on worldwide income under the Individual Income Tax Law. However, a significant exemption applies: under the State Council's 2019 IIT reform and subsequent guidance, Chinese seafarers who work aboard foreign-flag vessels and spend 183 days or more at sea during the tax year may qualify for a substantial foreign-employment income deduction, effectively reducing or eliminating PRC IIT liability on that employment income. Tax residency, the number of qualifying days at sea, and the vessel flag all affect the calculation. Seafarers serving on domestic Chinese-flag vessels in internal or coastal waters do not benefit from this exemption and pay standard IIT rates.

STCW recognition and foreign-flag service

The People's Republic of China is on the IMO White List, confirming its STCW implementation is assessed as compliant. Chinese CoCs are recognised — subject to EAR issuance — by numerous open registries commonly used for Chinese-crewed tonnage, including:

· Liberia, Marshall Islands, Panama, Bahamas — the four largest open registries.
· Singapore — significant recognition for Asian trade routes.
· Hong Kong SAR — special recognition arrangement under the Hong Kong Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance; PRC passport holders may apply for HK seafarer's identity documents.
· Cyprus, Malta — common for Mediterranean/European trade.

Chinese flag vessels also issue EARs to foreign CoC holders serving under the Chinese flag via the MSA Endorsement of Acceptance of Recognition (EAR) process.

Common issues for Chinese seafarers

Passport restrictions. PRC passport issuance and renewal can involve provincial Public Security Bureau (PSB) procedures that vary by province. Seafarers should maintain passport validity with at least 6 months of buffer and initiate renewals well before embarkation. Some ports and countries require specific transit visa arrangements for PRC passport holders.
Hong Kong and Macau port access. PRC passport holders require a Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macau (回乡证 / 港澳通行证) rather than a visa, but crew visa rules at the port of call govern. Check the relevant flag-state and port-state requirements before joining a vessel calling at HK or Macau.
Foreign-flag CoC recognition delays at MSA. Seafarers returning from extended foreign-flag service and seeking MSA CoC upgrading or renewal may encounter processing delays at MSA branches. Allow 6–12 weeks for EAR applications at provincial MSA offices.
Transit visas for non-Asian ports. The Chinese passport currently requires visas or transit visas for most European, North American, and African ports. Operators and ship managers should arrange seafarer visas well in advance. Schengen, UK, and US seafarer transit visas are the most commonly required.

Helplines and welfare contacts

· MSA Hotline — +86 10 6529 2114; CoC, STCW, and document enquiries.
· China Seamen's Union (CSU) — chinaseamen.org.cn; welfare assistance and CBA queries.
· ISWAN SeafarerHelp — +44 800 012 1004; 24/7, free, multilingual, confidential.
· Mission to Seafarers — operates seafarers' centres in Shanghai (Baoshan), Tianjin (Xingang), Qingdao, and other major Chinese ports.
· Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) — Catholic chaplaincy present in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Qingdao ports.