Important List of things to do before a Seaman or Sailor signs off his duties from his ship

The moment of the signing off from the ship’s duties  is one of the most emotional, joyous, exciting as well as hectic for each and every seaman. Afterall, it is only a seaman who will understand the nature of his ever long and tiring phase while onboard a ship. 

However, till the moment arrives, a Sailor or Seaman will be engrossed with his usual  workload and will have very less spare time to plan and prepare for important to-do-list before his relieve of his seafarer duties.

This, to ensure smooth transition, a Sailor / Seaman should not forget the below important noteworthy points ;

Your Travel Documents :

Do not forget to collect Collect the Travel Documents like Passport containing valid seaman transit visa and Seaman Identification and Record Book (SIRB or CDC) , check for validity, arrival and departure details on your air tickets, check for damage if any, etc.  Get the Endorsement of sign-in and sign-off dates with details and sign / stamp from the Master of the ship. Also get the contact details of the company authorized port agent from the departing port who would arrange safe transit, pickup and drop, hotel accommodation, etc  and assist with immigration formalities if needed.  

Your Paperwork and certificates:

Do not forget to collect other essential paperwork / Documents such as Safety Certificates, Yellow fever Vaccination, Academic Documents, Specialized Course Certificates, Licences, etc which was handed over to the Master’s office for safe keeping at the time of sign-in.

Your Sea Service Testimonials:

Do not forget to get letters of testimonials or commonly known as Sea Service Letters from the Master of the Ship. Needless to mention, recheck if details such as sea service dates, capacity, Conduct, Certificate of Competency details against your name, signature and stamp of the Master, etc  are properly mentioned or not as per your contract papers.

Travel Cash Arrangements:

Do not forget to carry enough travel funds or cash which is required for handy things at the transit at the airport, food, telephone for emergencies, travel essentials, immigration, transportation, contingencies, duty free shopping.

Baggage Rules:

Do not forget to check for the legality of any packages that you may be asked to carry. The Ships Master may ask you to carry some official documents to be delivered safety to the company’s office – ensure that this is tamper free and make sure it is purely documents and packaged well so as to avoid damage and wear and tear. It is common for your colleagues and friends on-board to request you to deliver or post their personal packages by way of letters, etc, but make sure to use your prudence and discretion as you may not want to land up in trouble for carrying someone else's belongings which may be banned or illegal in your country or some country you are transiting through.

Essentials in Hand Baggage:

Better be safe than sorry while travelling. Check the permitted weight of your luggage and keep all essential documents and valuables in your hand luggage to avoid a situation where your baggage is lost / ,misplaced during transiting as is common these days.

Aware of Local Laws while Transiting:

It is best to play safe and get briefed on the nature of luggage you might be carrying. Every country has varied rules say with regard to pirated material like DVDs, banned content, hazardous material, amount of permitted foreign currency, etc.

Proper Handover and Relieving:

Do not forget to handover your duties to your colleague with proper notes and instructions, as per the standard operating procedure of the ship. It is very m=necessary to have a smooth transition and prepare a hand over report. There may be instances where the Master may cancel the sign-off where proper handover has not happened which might result in jeopardizing the safety and security of the ship. Also the cabin should be vacated and left in clean and orderliness so that your reliever can be accommodated without much efforts in cleaning your cabin.