Seafarers Recruitment

Pakistani Seafarers: Documents, Recognition and Jobs

Pakistani officers, engineers and ratings serve on bulk carriers, tankers and container ships. The national fleet, led by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), is small compared with the number of seafarers, so many Pakistani seafarers work for foreign owners and managers. Many officers trained at the Pakistan Marine Academy in Karachi.

Certificates and seaman’s book in Pakistan

Certificates of Competency are examined and issued by the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) in Karachi, under the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
The Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) is the Pakistani seaman’s book; check the current issuing office and renewal rules with the issuing authority.

STCW status and recognition by foreign flags

Pakistan is a Party to the STCW Convention and appears on the IMO list of Parties confirmed as giving full and complete effect to it (the “white list”, IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1164 and its revisions). Check the latest revision before relying on it.

Foreign flags issue STCW Reg. I/10 endorsements on Pakistani CoCs after verification. Each flag keeps its own list of recognised countries; check it before the contract.

What employers ask Pakistani seafarers for

CoC from the Mercantile Marine Department with the flag endorsement
CDC with the sea service entries for the rank applied for
Passport valid for the whole contract, and seafarer medical certificate
Visas for the joining port and any transit country, which the employer should confirm early because they can take time

Karachi and Port Qasim are the main ports for crew changes in Pakistan; employers joining crew elsewhere should allow time for travel documents.

Endorsements and seaman’s books for foreign flags

Our partner International Ship Registry handles flag endorsements of CoCs (STCW Reg. I/10) and seaman’s books for ratings, for example the Belize seaman’s book, on behalf of seafarers and crewing agencies.

How to register

Create a free seafarer account and confirm your email address.
Choose Pakistani as nationality, then add your rank, sea service, CoC, STCW certificates, medical and seaman’s book, and upload copies.
Make your profile visible to verified employers and apply to the jobs for your rank.

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Jobs by rank and ship type

Seafarers of other nationalities

Seafarers: see how Seafarers Recruitment works for seafarers. Employers and crewing agencies: post a vacancy or search crew.