How to Add Sea Service Experience to Your Seafarer CV – Step-by-Step Guide

Sea service experience is one of the most important sections of a professional maritime CV. Whether you are a Deck Officer, Marine Engineer, Able Seaman, ETO, Offshore Crew Member or Yacht Professional, your employment history helps crewing agencies and shipowners evaluate your qualifications and practical experience.

A well-organized sea service record allows recruiters to quickly identify the vessels you have worked on, your previous positions, contract periods and experience across different maritime sectors.

With CREW ARIA CV Editor, you can create a detailed maritime employment history, enter vessel specifications, add information about previous employers and attach appraisal reports from completed contracts.

In this guide, we explain how to add sea service experience to your seafarer CV using the actual Work Experience section of CREW ARIA CV Editor.

Why Is Sea Service Important in a Maritime CV?

Unlike a standard resume, a professional seafarer CV often requires detailed information about previous vessels and contracts.

Crewing managers may evaluate:

• Previous positions and ranks.

• Vessel types and technical specifications.

• Duration of sea service.

• Experience with particular vessel operations.

• Previous shipowners and crewing agencies.

• Recent contracts and career progression.

• Availability of supporting appraisal reports.

For example, a company recruiting a Chief Officer for an AHTS vessel may prioritize candidates with offshore experience, while a tanker operator may look for previous employment on oil or chemical tankers.

Marine engineering recruiters may also pay attention to main engine power and engine type.

Providing accurate sea service information makes it easier for employers to evaluate your suitability for a vacancy.

Step 1: Open CREW ARIA CV Editor

Visit CREW ARIA CV Editor and sign in to your account.

Open your existing CV or start creating a new one.

If you are using the editor for the first time, read our introductory guide:

How to Create a Seafarer CV Online – Complete Guide

Step 2: Open the Work Experience Section

In the CV Editor, locate the section called Work Experience.

Expand this section to access the form for entering previous contracts.

The form includes a New contract area with fields for vessel information, employment details and technical specifications.

Prepare your Seaman's Book, previous CV and other employment records before filling in the information.

This will help you avoid errors in vessel names, dates and technical details.

Step 3: Enter the Vessel Name

Find the field:

Vessel name

Enter the official name of the vessel on which you worked.

For example:

Ocean Pioneer

Use the vessel name recorded in your employment documents.

If a vessel changed its name during your career, use the name that accurately reflects your contract and supporting records.

Step 4: Add the Vessel's DWT

The next field is:

DWT

DWT stands for Deadweight Tonnage.

It represents the total weight a vessel can carry, including cargo, fuel, freshwater, stores and other variable loads, up to its assigned loading condition.

For example:

45,000 DWT

This information can be particularly relevant for Merchant Fleet and Tanker positions.

If you do not know the vessel's DWT, check reliable vessel documentation rather than entering an estimated value.

Step 5: Enter Your Position

Find the field:

Position

Enter the rank or position you actually held during the contract.

Examples include:

• Master

• Chief Officer

• Second Officer

• Third Officer

• Chief Engineer

• Second Engineer

• ETO

• Bosun

• Able Seaman

• Motorman

• DPO

• Crane Operator

Always use the correct position for the relevant contract.

If you received a promotion, make sure your employment history accurately reflects the period you served in each rank.

Step 6: Specify the Vessel Type

Find the field:

Vessel type

Enter the correct classification of the vessel.

Examples include:

• Bulk Carrier

• Container Ship

• Oil Tanker

• Chemical Tanker

• LNG Carrier

• LPG Carrier

• Platform Supply Vessel (PSV)

• Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS)

• Diving Support Vessel (DSV)

• Passenger Ship

• Yacht

Vessel type is particularly important because many maritime vacancies require previous experience on specific types of ships.

For example, PSV experience should not be presented as AHTS experience unless you actually served on that type of vessel.

Step 7: Add the Vessel's Flag and Year of Construction

The CV Editor includes two additional fields:

Flag

Enter the country under whose flag the vessel was registered during your employment.

For example:

Marshall Islands

Year of construction

Select the vessel's construction year from the available list.

For example:

2018

These details help create a more complete technical profile of your previous vessels.

Step 8: Enter Your Contract Dates

Find the contract date fields and enter the relevant employment period.

The interface includes:

Contract start date

Enter the date you joined the vessel.

For completed contracts, also provide the end date in the corresponding field, where available.

For example:

This is a fictional example.

Make sure the dates correspond to your Seaman's Book, discharge records or other supporting documents.

Incorrect dates and overlapping contracts may raise questions during recruitment.

Step 9: Add the Shipowner and Crewing Agency

The Work Experience form includes two useful fields:

Ship Owner

Enter the name of the company that owned the vessel during your contract, if known.

Crewing agency

Enter the crewing company responsible for your recruitment or crew management, where applicable.

These fields help employers better understand your previous employment background.

Make sure you distinguish between the vessel owner and the crewing agency, as they are not necessarily the same company.

Step 10: Enter Main Engine Information

For technical and engineering positions, engine specifications can be especially important.

CREW ARIA CV Editor includes:

ME Power, kW

Enter the main engine power in kilowatts.

For example:

8,000 kW

ME Type

Enter the main engine type or model, based on the vessel's technical documentation.

For example:

MAN B&W 6S50ME-C

These details may help recruiters assess relevant technical experience for engineering vacancies.

Always verify engine specifications before entering them.

Step 11: Add the Vessel's IMO Number

Find the field:

IMO

Enter the vessel's IMO identification number, where applicable.

An IMO number is a unique seven-digit vessel identification number that normally remains associated with a ship throughout its lifetime, even if its name or flag changes.

For example:

IMO 1234567

The number above is illustrative and should not be used as an actual vessel identifier.

Providing the correct IMO number helps distinguish vessels with similar names and makes your employment history easier to verify.

Step 12: Upload Appraisal Reports

One of the useful features of CREW ARIA CV Editor is the ability to attach appraisal documents to your work experience.

Find the field:

Appraisal Photos / PDF

Here you can upload available appraisal reports as photos or PDF files.

Appraisal reports are performance evaluations that may be issued by a vessel's Master, Chief Engineer or another authorized supervisor after a contract.

Depending on the report, they may describe:

• Professional performance.

• Technical competence.

• Safety awareness.

• Teamwork and communication.

• Suitability for promotion or further employment.

Adding relevant appraisal documents can help support your professional experience when sharing your CV with a potential employer.

Only upload genuine documents that you are authorized to share. Review them for confidential or unnecessary personal information before attaching them.

Step 13: Review Your Sea Service Information

Before finishing, check every contract entry.

Pay particular attention to:

• Correct vessel names.

• Accurate positions.

• Vessel types and flags.

• Contract dates.

• DWT and technical specifications.

• Shipowner and crewing agency information.

• IMO numbers.

• Uploaded appraisal reports.

Avoid leaving incorrect or unverified details in your CV.

A clear and accurate employment history is more valuable than an unnecessarily complicated one.

Step 14: Import Existing Sea Service Using AI

If you already have a maritime CV in PDF format, you can use CREW ARIA AI CV Parser to help transfer existing information into the editor.

This can save time, particularly if you have completed many contracts.

However, AI extraction may contain mistakes or omit information.

Always review vessel names, positions, contract dates and technical specifications after importing your resume.

Read our dedicated tutorial:

How to Import Your Seafarer CV Using AI – Step-by-Step Guide

Step 15: Organize Your CV and Download the PDF

After completing your sea service history, review how the information appears in your resume.

CREW ARIA CV Editor provides four CV designs and allows you to rearrange sections.

For many maritime positions, Work Experience is one of the most important sections and should be easy to find.

Check the PDF preview and make sure your contracts are presented clearly.

Then download your updated maritime CV in PDF format.

You can share it with crewing agencies and shipowners when applying for suitable positions.

Common Mistakes When Adding Sea Service

Incorrect vessel specifications

Avoid entering estimated DWT, engine power or IMO information.

Missing contracts

Update your CV after each completed assignment.

Incorrect positions

Only list ranks you actually held.

Confusing shipowners and crewing agencies

These are different roles and should be recorded accurately.

Incorrect employment dates

Always verify contract periods against your documents.

Unverified appraisal reports

Attach only authentic, relevant performance evaluations that you are permitted to share.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple contracts to CREW ARIA CV Editor?

Yes. The Work Experience section is designed to record your maritime employment history, including previous contracts.

Do I need to enter vessel DWT and engine power?

These details can be useful, particularly for merchant shipping and engineering positions. Enter accurate information wherever relevant and supported by your records.

What is the IMO number in a seafarer CV?

It is a unique vessel identification number that helps distinguish ships and verify vessel information.

Can I upload appraisal reports?

Yes. The Work Experience form includes an Appraisal Photos / PDF upload field.

Can AI import my previous sea service?

CREW ARIA AI CV Parser can help extract employment information from an existing PDF resume. Always review the results before using your updated CV.

Will employers automatically see my CV?

No. Creating a CV in CREW ARIA CV Editor does not automatically make it available in a public employer database. You decide when and with whom to share your resume.

Create a Professional Sea Service Record With CREW ARIA

A detailed and accurate sea service history helps crewing agencies and shipowners understand your maritime background.

With CREW ARIA CV Editor, you can organize your previous contracts, add vessel specifications, enter employer information, attach appraisal reports and prepare a professional maritime CV.

Whether you work in the Merchant Fleet, Offshore, Tankers, Passenger Shipping or Yachting, keeping your employment history updated can help you prepare for your next career opportunity.

Create or Update Your Seafarer CV

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