What document records terms of employment between a seafarer and the employer?

• A. Seafarers' Employment Agreement (SEA)
• B. Crew Contract
• C. Service Record Book
• D. Contract of Carriage

Answer: (A)

The Seafarers' Employment Agreement records terms of employment between a seafarer and the employer. It is a formal, legally binding contract that sets out key details such as the job title and duties, wage, duration of employment, place of engagement, hours of work, leave, repatriation, medical care, and other working conditions. Under the Maritime Labour Convention, this agreement must be provided to the seafarer before starting work and be in a language they understand, offering clear protection and clarity for both parties.

The other options don’t serve this purpose: a Crew Contract is a generic term and not the standardized international contract; a Service Record Book documents the seafarer’s service history on ships rather than the terms of employment; a Contract of Carriage governs the transport of goods or passengers, not the employment relationship between a seafarer and the employer.