1. Our framework
OceanHire is a seafarer recruitment and placement service. We work according to:
- the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006), in particular Regulation 1.4 and Standard A1.4 on recruitment and placement, ratified by Morocco;
- ILO Convention No. 181 on Private Employment Agencies, ratified by Morocco;
- the ILO General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment, including the principle that workers never pay recruitment fees;
- the Moroccan Labour Code (Law 65-99) on private employment agencies, and Law 09-08 on the protection of personal data.
2. No fees for seafarers
We never charge seafarers, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee for recruitment, placement or for getting a job. This includes registration, CV review, interviews, “processing”, deposits or deductions from future wages.
As allowed by MLC 2006, the only costs a seafarer may pay are for their own national statutory medical certificate, national seafarer’s book and passport or similar personal travel document. These are paid to the clinic or authority, never to OceanHire. The cost of visas is borne by the shipowner. We never make a job offer depend on buying training, a medical or any service from a particular provider.
3. No blacklists
We do not use, keep or share blacklists or any other means to stop seafarers from obtaining work for which they are qualified.
4. Checking qualifications and documents
Before we present a candidate, we check that they hold the certificates and documents the position requires (for example STCW certificates, medical fitness certificate, seafarer’s book and passport) and that they meet the minimum age. OceanHire only registers candidates aged 18 or over.
5. Employment agreements
- Before or during engagement, we inform each seafarer of their rights and duties under the seafarer employment agreement (SEA), in Arabic, French or English.
- Seafarers can examine the agreement and seek advice before signing, and receive a copy of the signed agreement.
- We check that agreements comply with applicable laws, regulations and any collective agreement that forms part of the SEA. We do not accept contract substitution: the terms you are offered must be the terms you sign.
- We never keep a seafarer’s passport, seafarer’s book or certificates.
6. Responsible shipowners
We work with shipowners and cruise lines that operate ships under MLC 2006 conditions, including repatriation and financial security for seafarers, and we check, as far as practicable, that they are able to protect seafarers from being stranded in a foreign port.
7. Protection against monetary loss
MLC 2006 (Standard A1.4.5(c)(vi)) requires a system of protection, by insurance or an equivalent measure, to compensate seafarers for monetary loss if the agency or the shipowner fails to meet its obligations to them. OceanHire will have this protection in place before placing any seafarer on board.
8. Records
We keep an up-to-date register of the seafarers recruited or placed through us. It is protected under our Privacy policy and available for inspection by the competent authority.
9. Equal treatment and freely chosen work
We assess people on their skills, experience and documents, never on origin, religion, gender, colour, political opinion or social origin. We never use deception, threats, debt or document retention, and every seafarer is free to withdraw from a recruitment process at any time.
10. Complaints
Anyone can complain about our activities, free of charge, at contact@oceanhire.co, through our contact page or by phone/WhatsApp +212 6 32 29 60 71. We acknowledge every complaint within 5 working days and give a written answer within 30 days. If a complaint cannot be resolved, we inform the competent Moroccan authority. You can also contact the labour inspectorate or the maritime administration directly, and seafarers on board may use the ship’s on-board complaint procedure (MLC 2006 Regulation 5.1.5).
See also our Candidate charter and Refund policy.