How to Write a Seafarer CV That Passes Initial Crewing Screening
A comprehensive guide to seaman application standards, critical mistakes, and sea service presentation for crewing agencies and shipowners.
1. Anatomy of an Ideal Seafarer CV
A maritime CV differs fundamentally from a traditional corporate resume. There is no need for generic personal statements ("good communicator, stress-tolerant"), but accurate technical specifications of the fleet and clear chronological order are critical.
Essential Section Structure:
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Personal Information & Photo (Contact details and a professional photo)
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Desired Position & Availability (Target rank and earliest ready date)
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Sea Service / Experience (Vessel history in reverse chronological order)
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Documents & Certificates (STCW / Flag States) (Endorsements and STCW courses)
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Education & Marine Courses (Academies, maritime universities, and training)
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English Proficiency & References (Marlins/CES scores and master/crewing references)
2. Section Breakdown: How to Fill Every Details Correctly
Section 1. Personal Details & Photo
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Photo: Professional attire or uniform only, against a neutral background. Sunglasses, vacation photos, or cropped group pictures are strictly unacceptable.
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Contacts: Phone number in international format (with WhatsApp/Telegram), professional email (
name.surname@email.com). -
Availability (Ready Date): State an honest date. Writing "ASAP" is only appropriate if all visas and flag documents are fully ready.
Section 2. Sea Experience — The Core Section
Sea service must be listed starting from your most recent contract. Each vessel entry must include complete technical specifications.
Vessel Specifications Checklist for CV:
| Parameter | Why It Matters to HR | Example Entry |
| Rank | Assigned onboard position | Chief Officer |
| Vessel Name / IMO | Vessel identification and history | m/v "Ocean Star" (IMO 9876543) |
| Vessel Type | Specific vessel type | Container Ship (Cellular) |
| DWT / GRT | Deadweight and Gross Tonnage | 55,000 DWT / 38,000 GRT |
| Engine Type / Power | For Engineers: ME type and power | MAN B&W 6S60ME / 13,500 kW |
| Year Built / Flag | Construction year and flag state | 2018 / Marshall Islands |
| Period (Sign-on / Sign-off) | Exact contract dates (DD.MM.YY) | 12.10.2024 – 15.04.2025 (6 mos) |
| Crewing / Shipowner | Company name | SeaTrans Fleet Management |
Expert Tip: Deck Officers should explicitly state the ECDIS models used onboard (JRC, Furuno, Transas), while Engineers should mention main engine control types (electronic vs. mechanical).
3. Common Mistakes That Get Your CV Rejected
❌ MISTAKE 1: Sending CV as DOCX, Pages, or JPG
Why it fails: Complex table formatting breaks on different screens or devices.
Proper way: Always save as PDF. Filename format: Rank_Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf
❌ MISTAKE 2: Unexplained gaps in sea service
Why it fails: A gap longer than 12 months raises questions from shipowners.
Proper way: State the reason for the pause (e.g., "Refresher courses & license upgrade").
❌ MISTAKE 3: Incorrect Maritime English terminology
Why it fails: Signals poor English proficiency.
Proper way: Use standard IMO terminology (e.g., "Chief Mate" or "2nd Mate", not "captain assistant").
4. Requirements for Documents & Certificates
All certificates must display the registration number, issue date, and expiry date
- STCW Basic Safety Training (VI/1) — Reg. No: BST-88902 — Valid till: 12.05.2029
- Advanced Fire Fighting (VI/3) — Reg. No: AFF-44102 — Valid till: 12.05.2029
- Medical Care (VI/4-2) — Reg. No: MC-11029 — Valid till: 18.11.2028
- US Visa C1/D — Valid till: 04.08.2027
5. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the correct way to name a CV file before sending it to a crewing agency?
The file should be easily identifiable without opening it. Ideal format: Rank_Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf (e.g., 3rd_Engineer_Ivan_Petrov_CV.pdf). Avoid generic names like Resume.pdf, 111.pdf, or New Document.
Should I include inland waterways or shipyard experience in my CV?
If you are applying for deep-sea or offshore positions, priority is given to ocean sea time. River experience or shipyard work should be moved to a separate "Ashore Experience" section or listed briefly at the bottom.
What if I have limited experience or am applying for my first contract (Cadet / Ratings)?
Focus on your maritime education, completed STCW courses, practical equipment skills, high Marlins/CES test scores, and valid passports/endorsements.
Which file format is preferred — PDF or Word (DOCX)?
Always use PDF for email attachments or web uploads. This guarantees that tables, fonts, and photo formatting display exactly as intended on any device.
About the Author:
Captain Oleksandr Kovalenko
Active Master Mariner & Crewing Director with 14+ years of experience in seafarer recruitment for international shipping companies.
«Over my years in crewing, my team and I have reviewed more than 40,000 seafarer CVs. Over 60% of candidates are rejected during the initial screening stage not due to lack of qualifications, but because of poorly formatted, incomplete, or unstructured applications. In this article, I have compiled the essential rules that will help your CV land directly on the shipowner's desk.»
Initial CV screening at a crewing agency takes between 15 and 30 seconds. During this time, an HR manager or automated CV parser must locate 4 key parameters: rank, vessel types with tonnage/deadweight, English proficiency, and valid marine documents.
If this information is hidden in an unreadable format or filled with errors, the resume goes straight to the archives—regardless of how impressive your sea service is.
