CREW EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Seafarer Employment Agreement Under MLC 2006 and U.S. Maritime Law

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Parties and Vessel Information
2. Position and Duties
3. Term of Employment
4. Wages and Compensation
5. Hours of Work and Rest
6. Leave and Repatriation
7. Accommodations and Provisions
8. Health and Medical Care
9. Safety and Working Conditions
10. Termination
11. Dispute Resolution
12. Insurance and Liability
13. General Provisions
14. Execution
15. Sources and References

CREW EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT / SEAFARER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

1. PARTIES AND VESSEL INFORMATION

Shipowner/Employer:
Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Country of Registration: [________________________________]
Contact: [________________________________]

Seafarer/Crew Member:
Full Name: [________________________________]
Date of Birth: [__/__/____]
Nationality: [________________________________]
Passport No.: [________________]
Seaman's Book/CDC No.: [________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Next of Kin: [________________________________] (Relationship: [________________])
Next of Kin Contact: [________________________________]

Vessel Information:
Vessel Name: M/V [________________________________]
IMO Number: [________________]
Official Number: [________________]
Flag State: [________________________________]
Port of Registry: [________________________________]
Gross Tonnage: [________________] GT
Type of Vessel: [☐ Bulk Carrier / ☐ Container / ☐ Tanker / ☐ General Cargo / ☐ Passenger / ☐ Offshore / ☐ Tug/Barge / ☐ Other: [________________]]

2. POSITION AND DUTIES

2.1 Position/Rating: [________________________________]
2.2 Department: [☐ Deck / ☐ Engine / ☐ Steward/Catering / ☐ Other: [________________]]
2.3 Rank/Grade: [________________________________]

2.4 Certification Required:
☐ STCW Certificate of Competency: [________________________________]
☐ STCW Certificate of Proficiency: [________________________________]
☐ Medical Fitness Certificate (ILO/MLC or flag state): Valid through [__/__/____]
☐ Other licenses/endorsements: [________________________________]

2.5 Duties: The Seafarer shall perform all duties customary to the above position, obey all lawful orders, and comply with the vessel's standing orders, company safety management system (ISM Code), and applicable regulations.

3. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

3.1 Type of Agreement:
☐ Voyage Agreement — For the voyage from [________________________________] to [________________________________], expected duration approximately [____] months.
☐ Fixed-Term Agreement — From [__/__/____] to [__/__/____] ([____] months).
☐ Indefinite Agreement — Commencing [__/__/____], subject to termination provisions below.

3.2 Port of Engagement: [________________________________]
3.3 Expected Port(s) of Discharge: [________________________________]

3.4 Probationary Period: [☐ None / ☐ [____] days from commencement date].

4. WAGES AND COMPENSATION

4.1 Basic Monthly Wage: $[________________] (or equivalent in [________________] currency)
4.2 Overtime Rate: $[________________] per hour (for hours exceeding [____] per [☐ day / ☐ week])
4.3 Leave Pay: $[________________] per month (accrued at [____] days per month of service)

4.4 Additional Allowances:
☐ Subsistence/victualing allowance: $[________________] per [day/month]
☐ War risk/hazardous area bonus: $[________________] per day (when applicable)
☐ Tank cleaning bonus: $[________________]
☐ Cargo handling bonus: $[________________]
☐ Other: [________________________________]: $[________________]

4.5 Payment Schedule: Wages shall be paid [☐ monthly / ☐ bi-monthly / ☐ upon completion of voyage] in [☐ U.S. dollars / ☐ [________________]].

4.6 Allotments: The Seafarer [☐ does / ☐ does not] request monthly allotment of $[________________] to be paid to [________________________________] at account [________________________________].

4.7 Wage Account: The Employer shall provide the Seafarer with monthly wage accounts as required by MLC 2006, Standard A2.2(1).

5. HOURS OF WORK AND REST

5.1 Normal Working Hours: [____] hours per day, [____] days per week (standard: 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week per MLC 2006).

5.2 Minimum Rest Hours (STCW/MLC 2006):
☐ Not less than 10 hours in any 24-hour period; AND
☐ Not less than 77 hours in any 7-day period.
☐ Rest hours may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least 6 hours.

5.3 Overtime Records: The Employer shall maintain records of hours of work and rest as required by MLC 2006, Standard A2.3 and STCW Section A-VIII/1.

6. LEAVE AND REPATRIATION

6.1 Annual Leave: The Seafarer is entitled to paid annual leave of not less than 2.5 calendar days per month of employment (30 days per year), per MLC 2006, Standard A2.4.

6.2 Shore Leave: The Seafarer shall be granted reasonable shore leave in port, consistent with operational requirements.

6.3 Repatriation: The Employer shall provide repatriation at the Employer's expense when:
☐ The agreement expires or is lawfully terminated
☐ The Seafarer is unable to perform duties due to illness or injury
☐ The vessel is sold or changes flag
☐ The vessel is bound for a war zone and the Seafarer does not consent
☐ Other circumstances per MLC 2006, Regulation 2.5

6.4 Repatriation Destination: [☐ Seafarer's home / ☐ Port of engagement / ☐ [________________________________]].

6.5 The maximum continuous period of shipboard service without leave shall not exceed [____] months (MLC 2006 recommends no more than 11 months).

7. ACCOMMODATIONS AND PROVISIONS

7.1 The Employer shall provide the Seafarer with accommodation and food at no cost to the Seafarer, in compliance with MLC 2006, Regulations 3.1 and 3.2.

7.2 Accommodations shall include: [☐ single cabin / ☐ shared cabin (max [____] occupants)] with adequate ventilation, lighting, sanitary facilities, and furnishings.

7.3 Food and drinking water shall be provided free of charge, of sufficient quantity, quality, and nutritional value.

8. HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE

8.1 The Employer shall provide the Seafarer with health protection and medical care at no cost, including:
☐ On-board medical treatment and essential medicines
☐ Shore-side medical care when reasonably necessary
☐ Dental care (emergency)

8.2 Sick Pay: If the Seafarer is incapable of duty due to illness or injury during the agreement, the Seafarer shall be entitled to wages for a period of not less than [____] days (minimum 16 weeks per MLC 2006, Standard A4.2).

8.3 Maintenance and Cure (U.S. Vessels): Under general maritime law, the Employer owes maintenance and cure to the Seafarer until maximum medical improvement, regardless of fault. This obligation is in addition to any rights under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104.

9. SAFETY AND WORKING CONDITIONS

9.1 The Employer shall ensure the vessel complies with the ISM Code and all applicable safety regulations, including SOLAS, STCW, and flag state requirements.

9.2 The Seafarer shall:
☐ Participate in all safety drills and training
☐ Use all required personal protective equipment (PPE)
☐ Report unsafe conditions and occupational hazards
☐ Comply with the vessel's Safety Management System (SMS)

9.3 The Seafarer has the right to refuse unsafe work that poses an imminent danger to life or health, consistent with applicable law.

10. TERMINATION

10.1 By Mutual Agreement: This agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual written consent.

10.2 By Notice: Either Party may terminate this agreement upon [____] days' written notice (minimum 7 days per MLC 2006).

10.3 Immediate Termination by Employer (for cause):
☐ Willful disobedience of a lawful command
☐ Continued neglect of duty
☐ Assault upon any person on board
☐ Smuggling or possession of contraband
☐ Intoxication rendering the Seafarer unfit for duty
☐ Conduct endangering the vessel, cargo, or persons on board
☐ Conviction of a criminal offense

10.4 Immediate Termination by Seafarer:
☐ Vessel declared unseaworthy
☐ Material breach of contract by the Employer
☐ Constructive discharge or inhuman treatment

10.5 Upon termination, the Employer shall: (a) pay all wages due within the time required by law; (b) provide a Certificate of Discharge; and (c) arrange repatriation at the Employer's expense.

11. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

11.1 On-Board Complaints: The Seafarer may use the vessel's on-board complaint procedure as required by MLC 2006, Regulation 5.1.5.

11.2 Shore-Side Complaints: The Seafarer may file complaints with the flag state or port state authorities.

11.3 Arbitration/Litigation:
☐ Disputes shall be resolved by arbitration in [________________________________] under [________________________________] rules.
☐ Disputes shall be resolved in the courts of [________________________________].

12. INSURANCE AND LIABILITY

12.1 The Employer shall maintain P&I (Protection and Indemnity) insurance covering the Seafarer's illness, injury, death, and repatriation as required by MLC 2006, Standard A4.2.

12.2 Death Benefit: In the event of the Seafarer's death during employment, the Employer shall pay a death benefit of $[________________] to the Seafarer's designated beneficiary.

12.3 Disability: Compensation for permanent disability shall be in accordance with [☐ the applicable CBA / ☐ flag state law / ☐ the following schedule: [________________________________]].

13. GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.1 Governing Law: This agreement shall be governed by [☐ U.S. federal maritime law / ☐ the law of the flag state ([________________________________]) / ☐ [________________________________]].

13.2 Entire Agreement: This agreement (together with any applicable CBA) constitutes the entire employment agreement.

13.3 Language: This agreement is executed in [☐ English / ☐ English and [________________]]. The Seafarer confirms that [☐ a translation has been provided / ☐ the Seafarer reads English].

13.4 Copy to Seafarer: A signed copy of this agreement shall be provided to the Seafarer and another copy shall be posted on the vessel's notice board, per MLC 2006, Standard A2.1(1)(d).

13.5 Applicable CBA: This agreement is subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between [________________________________] and [________________________________], effective [__/__/____], which is incorporated herein by reference. [☐ Not applicable — no CBA].

14. EXECUTION

The Seafarer acknowledges having read and understood this agreement, having had the opportunity to seek independent advice, and voluntarily entering into this agreement.

EMPLOYER/SHIPOWNER:

Signature: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________]
Title: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

SEAFARER:

Signature: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

WITNESS (if required by flag state):

Signature: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________]
Title: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

DOCUMENT CHECKLIST

☐ Signed Crew Employment Agreement (2 copies — 1 for Seafarer, 1 for vessel)
☐ Seafarer's valid passport
☐ Seaman's Book / Continuous Discharge Certificate
☐ STCW certificates and endorsements
☐ Medical fitness certificate (MLC or flag state)
☐ Drug and alcohol test results (if required)
☐ Copy of applicable CBA (if any)
☐ Pre-employment medical examination record
☐ Flag state documentation requirements

Sources and References

• Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 — ILO
• MLC 2006, Regulation 2.1 — Employment Agreement Requirements
• 46 U.S.C. Chapter 103 — Seaman's Shipping Articles
• 46 U.S.C. § 30104 — Jones Act
• 46 U.S.C. § 10313 — Seaman's Wages