Who pays a crew agency, and what the MLC says
The yacht is the client. Bluewater, for example, describes its traditional placement service as free, with nothing to pay until it has hand-selected the right crew member for the yacht. The Crew Network tells crew that applying for jobs through it costs nothing. The money comes from the hiring side.
The Maritime Labour Convention makes this a rule. Standard A1.4.5(b) says no recruitment or placement fee may fall on the seafarer, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part. The only costs you carry are a national statutory medical certificate, a national seafarer's book and a passport or similar travel document. Visas are excluded from that list and fall to the shipowner. The MCA sets this out in MGN 475 (M) Amendment 2, published in June 2026.
How registration works
Most agencies now register you online first. Bluewater asks crew to create a profile and upload a CV, references, copies of certificates and a valid ENG1 before it will send a CV out. YPI CREW handles registration through a chatbot on its website, where you upload your CV, certificates and personal details, and recruiters who cover your department then review the profile.
After that, staying visible is your job. YPI asks crew to check in at least once a week, Bluewater at least twice a week, so the agent knows you are still free. Bluewater interviews walk-in crew at its Palma, Antibes and Fort Lauderdale offices without appointments. Dress as working crew dress, arrive on time and keep your phone on you.
What an agency checks, and what it owes you
Under the MLC an agency must confirm who you are and that you hold the experience, training, qualifications and authorisations the post requires. In the UK this sits in regulation 4 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014. Bluewater says it interviews, reference checks and verifies yacht tickets. YPI CREW says it does not run criminal checks itself and uses a vetting partner, SafeSail, for that work.
The duties run both ways. An agency must tell you your rights and duties under the seafarer employment agreement, let you read it before and after signing, and give you a copy. It must not blacklist qualified crew. It must hold insurance or an equivalent system of protection to cover your money losses if it or the shipowner fails you, and since the 2026 UK amendment it must tell you about that cover before or while you are engaged.
What an agent cannot do for you
An agent cannot hire you. The Crew Network states plainly that contact with any agency does not guarantee a job and that the hiring manager, usually the captain, makes the final decision. The agent's work is to put a strong, accurate profile in front of the right yacht.
Many agencies also stop at the placement. The Crew Network describes itself as a search and selection agency with no part in contracts or payroll, and it urges crew to sign a seafarer contract before joining. On a private yacht that is not operating commercially, YPI CREW notes the MLC may not apply and an SEA may not be required. Read what you are signing, and ask the agent which flag the yacht flies.
What you need
- Up-to-date CVAgents send your CV straight to captains, so it must be current and match the post you are applying for.
- Certificate copiesUpload scans of your tickets so the agency can check you hold what the post needs.
- Valid ENG1Bluewater lists a valid ENG1 among the documents it needs before it puts you forward. The medical is one of the few costs you pay yourself.
- ReferencesBluewater asks for references and accepts shore-based ones from crew who are new to yachting.
- PassportYour passport is your own cost under the MLC. Visas needed for the job are the shipowner's cost.
- Regular check-insAgencies ask you to confirm your availability once or twice a week so your profile stays live.
By location
| United Kingdom | The UK has no mandatory licence for crew agencies. The MCA runs a voluntary certification scheme and publishes a list of certified recruitment and placement services on GOV.UK. |
|---|---|
| France | France keeps a national register of seafarer recruitment and placement services. YPI CREW in Antibes says it is listed there under number GM1/50. |
How to get there
- Day 1Register onlineCreate a profile with the agency and upload your CV, certificates, references and ENG1.
- Week 1Meet the agentVisit the office or speak by phone or video so the agent can interview you and note your strengths.
- WeeklyCheck inConfirm your availability and location once or twice a week, and update the profile when anything changes.
- When matchedGet put forwardThe agent matches you to a vacancy and sends your profile to the captain or hiring manager.
- When shortlistedInterview with the yachtThe captain or head of department interviews you and makes the hiring decision.
- Before joiningRead the contractExamine the seafarer employment agreement before you sign, keep a copy, and ask what financial protection the agency holds.
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Related pages
Questions people ask
Can a yacht crew agency charge me a fee to find me a job?
No. MLC 2006 Standard A1.4.5(b) bars any recruitment or placement fee from falling on the seafarer, directly or indirectly. The yacht or owner pays the agency.
Who pays for my ENG1, passport and visas?
You pay for your national medical certificate such as the ENG1, your seafarer's book and your passport. Visas are excluded from that list and are the shipowner's cost under the MLC.
Does registering with an agency guarantee me a job?
No. The Crew Network says contact with any agency guarantees nothing and the hiring manager makes the final choice. Registering with several reputable agencies and checking in often keeps you in view.
Do crew agencies run criminal background checks?
Practice varies. YPI CREW says it does not run criminal checks itself and works with a vetting company, SafeSail. Under the MLC every agency must still verify your identity and your qualifications.
Will the agency deal with my contract and wages?
Often not. The Crew Network says it handles search and selection only, with no part in contracts or payroll. Your contract and pay come from the yacht's employer, so read the SEA before you sign.
What if the agency or yacht fails to pay what I am owed?
Under the MLC an agency must hold insurance or an equivalent system of protection to cover your losses if it or the shipowner fails you. UK guidance says to claim within three months of the default.
