MCA Certified Seafarer Recruitment & Placement Agency

Cruise Academy is a MCA Certified Recruitment and Placement Agency and we go above and beyond the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

We will only partner with companies that demonstrate the same commitment.

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 image

Compliance Statement

Cruise Academy is committed to providing safe, ethical, and transparent recruitment and placement services for all seafarers. We operate in alignment with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006), including the 2025 amendments entering into force in 2027 concerning violence, harassment, discrimination, and seafarer protection.

Although Cruise Academy does not issue employment contracts, manage pay, or arrange repatriation, we participate in the sourcing, screening, and referral of seafarers for shipboard employment. As such, we recognise our responsibilities under MLC Regulation 1.4 and maintain the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and duty of care.

1. Zero Tolerance for Violence, Harassment, Abuse, and Discrimination

Cruise Academy upholds a strict zero-tolerance policy towards:

Physical or verbal violence
Sexual harassment or sexual assault
Bullying, intimidation, coercion, or threats
Discrimination based on nationality, gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic
Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern

We will not knowingly place any seafarer into an environment where these behaviours are tolerated.

2. Rights of Seafarers

All seafarers we place are informed of their rights under MLC 2006, including:

The right to a safe and respectful working environment
The right to be free from violence, harassment, and discrimination
The right to accessible onboard and shore-based complaints procedures
The right to raise concerns without fear of retaliation
The right to confidential, impartial support if they experience harm

These rights are communicated via our pre-departure information materials and/or micro-training modules.

3. Fair and Transparent Recruitment Practices

Cruise Academy does not charge seafarers any recruitment or placement fees. We do not withhold documents and do not participate in any practice that would exploit, mislead, or disadvantage seafarers.

Our recruitment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and job-related requirements, and we maintain transparent evaluation criteria for all candidates.

4. Due Diligence on Employers

We work only with cruise operators and manning partners that uphold the principles of MLC 2006 and maintain:

Valid MLC certification
Fair, safe, and compliant working conditions
Clear reporting and welfare mechanisms
Zero-tolerance policies on violence and harassment

If we become aware of serious or systemic concerns within a partner organisation, we will suspend referrals until issues are addressed.

5. Complaints and Reporting Mechanisms

Cruise Academy provides accessible channels for seafarers to raise concerns or report incidents of violence, harassment, abuse, unethical recruitment, or any MLC-related issue. Seafarers may contact us confidentially at: md@cruise-academy.co.uk

All complaints will be handled promptly, sensitively, and without retaliation. Where appropriate, we will escalate concerns to the hiring cruise line or manning partner and support the seafarer through the process.

Cruise Academy maintains a confidential complaints log and documents how each matter is addressed.

6. Data Protection and Privacy

We respect the privacy and confidentiality of all seafarers. Personal data is managed securely and only shared with authorised partners for legitimate recruitment purposes, in accordance with UK GDPR and applicable data protection laws.

7. Continuous Improvement

Cruise Academy regularly reviews its recruitment practices, training materials, and compliance procedures to ensure alignment with evolving MLC requirements, including the 2025 adopted amendments.

We remain committed to supporting safer, fairer, and more dignified careers at sea.

Fees

Our candidates will never be charged any fees to use our recruitment and placement services.

Exploitation

We maintain procedures to ensure that seafarers are not subject to exploitation, with regards to any offer of employment.

Minimum Age

No person under the age of 16 (or below the minimum age specified by the vessel’s Flag State) shall be employed or engaged to work on a ship.

Blacklisting

We never use means, mechanisms or lists to prevent or deter candidates from gaining employment for which they are qualified.

Seafarer Records

We maintain accurate registers of all the seafarers we recruit or place.

Contracts

We inform candidates of their rights and duties prior to, or in the process of engagement, and ensure they have sufficient time to examine their employment agreements and seek counsel, before and after they are signed.

Qualifications

We verify that candidates are suitably qualified and hold the necessary documents for the job concerned.

Abandonment

We ensure, as far as practicable, that the shipowner has the means to protect the seafarer from being stranded in a foreign port.

Complaints

We examine and respond to any complaint we may receive concerning our activities and escalate where necessary to the competent authority.

Protection

We establish a system of protection to compensate seafarers for monetary loss that they may incur in the unlikely event that a shipowner fails to meet its obligations as per their employment agreement.

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Ethical Recruitment & Zero Harassment