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Guide·

How to Check a Vessel and Company Before Signing a Contract

A step-by-step guide for seafarers on how to check a vessel and employer through open sources (OSINT) for safe employment.

Checking the Vessel and Company Before Signing a Contract: A Step-by-Step Guide

Purpose of This Article

Every seafarer has faced a situation where they need to make a quick decision about a new contract. How to ensure that the job offer is genuine, the vessel exists and is in good condition, and the company has no payment issues? In this article, we will explore practical ways to verify through open sources (OSINT) that will help you:

  • Confirm the existence and technical condition of the vessel
  • Learn the actual location and route of the potential workplace
  • Check the reputation of the shipowner and the history of crew issues
  • Identify fraudulent offers before you waste time and money

The basic ways to recognize fraudulent offers were discussed in the previous article. Today, we will talk about specific tools that should become part of the mandatory preparation before signing any maritime contract — even if the offer comes from a well-known company.

OSINT Tools for Vessel Verification

Open data sources allow you to obtain extensive information about the vessel, which can help identify discrepancies in the job offer:

1. Vessel Tracking Systems (AIS)

MarineTraffic and VesselFinder use data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which shows:

  • The current location of the vessel
  • The route and destination port
  • The speed and course of the vessel
  • The type of vessel and its main characteristics

How to use for verification:

  1. Enter the vessel’s name or IMO number
  2. Check where the vessel is currently located
  3. Cross-check this information with the data in the job offer

For example, if you are offered to fly immediately to a vessel that, according to AIS data, is undergoing long-term repairs in dry dock — this is a clear sign of fraud.

2. IMO Number: The Key to Vessel Verification

Every sea-going vessel has a unique IMO number (seven-digit identifier) that does not change throughout its operational life — even with a change of name, flag, or owner.

Why this is important:

  • Knowing the IMO number allows you to uniquely identify the vessel
  • Fraudsters often provide a non-existent IMO or a number from another vessel
  • The authenticity of the IMO can be verified through official databases

How to check the IMO number:

  1. It must contain exactly 7 digits
  2. The last digit is a check digit calculated using a special algorithm
  3. Enter the number on the IMO.org or Equasis website

3. Equasis Database

Equasis is a free database of vessels and shipping companies containing extensive information:

  • Detailed technical specifications of the vessel
  • History of name and flag changes
  • Data on the owner and operator of the vessel
  • Information about the classification society
  • History of inspections and detentions by Port State Control

How to use for verification:

  1. Register (for free)
  2. Enter the vessel’s IMO number
  3. Review all available information about the vessel

4. Checking Classification Societies

Classification societies (DNV, Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas, and others) maintain their own databases of vessels certified by them:

The absence of a vessel in the database of the claimed classification society is a serious cause for concern.

Step-by-Step OSINT Verification Example

Let’s consider a practical example of verifying the vessel ELEEN SOFIA (IMO: 9407512) if you received a job offer on it.

Step 1: Check Existence and Location

  1. Go to MarineTraffic or VesselFinder
  2. Enter "ELEEN SOFIA IMO:9407512"
  3. Obtain current data: vessel type (Supramax bulk carrier), flag (Liberia), current location

What to pay attention to:

  • Does the vessel type match what is stated in the job offer?
  • Is the vessel actually located in the region specified in the offer?
  • Is the vessel active or is it under repair/idle?

Step 2: Check via Equasis

  1. Enter the IMO number 9407512 on the Equasis website
  2. Review the obtained information:

Main vessel data:

  • Year built: 2008
  • Deadweight: 55,411 tons
  • Shipyard: Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan
  • Class: ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai)

Company information:

  • Registered owner: Maritime Sofia LLC (offshore company, Marshall Islands)
  • Technical manager: Eleen Marine JSC
  • Country of registration: Bulgaria (office in Sofia)

Inspection history:

  • December 2022: detained by the US Coast Guard in New Orleans for 10 days due to safety violations
  • February 2024: inspection in Australia revealed wage arrears and supply issues
  • April 2024: ITF inspectors recorded critical violations (lack of provisions, non-working air conditioners)

Step 3: History of Operations and Detentions

  1. Check the movement history through AIS services (MarineTraffic, VesselFinder):
    • The vessel is actively sailing in the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and Africa
    • Frequent ports: Salalah (Oman), Chittagong (Bangladesh), Mackay (Australia), Mombasa (Kenya)
  2. History of arrests and detentions:
    • December 2022: detention in New Orleans (USA)
    • April 2024: arrest in Mackay port (Australia) due to commercial claims
    • December 2024: arrest in Mombasa (Kenya) due to a supplier’s claim for unpaid repairs (~$55,000)
  3. Name and flag changes:
    • Original name: ERIA COLOSSUS under the flag of Panama
    • Renamed to ELEEN SOFIA in 2021 upon change of ownership
    • Current flag: Liberia (port of registry Monrovia)

Step 4: Check Mentions in News and Reports

  1. Use search queries like "ELEEN SOFIA IMO 9407512" with keywords:
    • Detention, arrest, issues, ITF, crew
  2. Find publications:
    • ITF press releases where the vessel is referred to as a "ship of shame"
    • Industry media (Maritime Executive, Splash 24/7) mentioning violations of labor conditions
    • Reports from national unions about problems on board

Identified issues:

  • Numerous detentions in different countries
  • Wage arrears to the crew
  • Insufficient supplies (provisions, spare parts)
  • Poor living conditions (non-working air conditioners in a tropical climate)
  • Complicated ownership structure complicating problem resolution

Red Flags During Verification

When conducting OSINT research, pay special attention to the following alarming signs:

  • Data Discrepancies: information about the vessel in the offer does not match data from open sources
  • Disabled AIS: the vessel has not transmitted its location data for a long time
  • Frequent Flag Changes: especially to flags of convenience with low requirements
  • Numerous Detentions: indicates systemic safety issues
  • Lack of P&I Insurance: increases the risk of non-payment of compensation in case of accidents
  • Sanction Lists: check if the vessel or company is under international sanctions

Additional Sources for Verification

1. Official Vessel Registers

  • Paris MoU — database of vessel inspections in European ports
  • Tokyo MoU — similar system for the Asia-Pacific region
  • USCG PSIX — database of the US Coast Guard

2. Specialized Maritime Databases

3. Checking Sanction Lists

Conclusion

Using OSINT methods can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of fraud when seeking employment. By spending a few hours on thorough verification of the vessel and company, you can protect yourself from losing money, time, and reputation.

Remember the main principles of safe employment:

  • Never pay for employment
  • Always verify information through several independent sources
  • Require a written contract before starting work
  • If in doubt, contact ITF or professional seafarers' unions

Useful Resources

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