Thank you for inquiring about crewing with Sea Shepherd Global! We have had people of all ages, from diverse “walks of life,” from around the world apply to spend several months and sometimes years volunteering aboard one of our vessels.
This is your chance to participate in direct action campaigns with the most successful marine wildlife protection organization in the world!
Application Fee
Applying to be a part of the crew requires a one-time, non-refundable application fee of €100 to Sea Shepherd Global. Payment will be available after filling out this form.
The application fee may be waived for active and existing onshore Sea Shepherd volunteers. If you are an active volunteer within one of our worldwide Sea Shepherd Onshore teams, please have your coordinator confirm with our crewing department that your application fee should be waived.
We may also waive the fee for applicants who are highly skilled within the maritime industry, like ticketed navigators or marine or diesel engineers. If you believe that you fall within this category, please get in touch with us here
Application Process
Please note that if you would like to volunteer on one of our vessels you will be required to speak and understand English at a high level. All applications must be completed in English.
Crew Selection Process
Below is an outline on how we “crew-up” our vessels whenever we are preparing for a campaign or whenever a crewmember position opens up:
Time Available
When filling a position, we first find the applicants that have matching skills. Then we look at their availability. The minimum commitment is at least one month with a maximum of about 4 months. The longer you can dedicate the better chance you have of being accepted. We can, of course, evaluate how things are going at any point along the way and make changes.
Positions Available:
There are six primary areas onboard our ships:
- Bridge
- Deck
- Engine Room
- Galley
- Communications
- Media
- Medical
Previous experience working on board a ship is not required. First-time deckhands, engineers, quartermasters and galley workers are trained by veteran crewmembers.
We choose crew based on the ever-changing needs of our ships throughout the year. Sometimes we need experienced crew who help us get our ships from port to port, or on campaigns, but often we need volunteers to work while our ships are in port.
Our ships often request crew with little notice--sometimes just a few days to a few weeks. Once you apply, your application will be put in our database and could be selected based on your skills and availability. We will keep your application on file forever so there is no need to reapply! If your skills and availability change please keep us updated.
Desirable Crewmember Attributes
Working on our ships requires a lot of passion and teamwork. The most sought-after crewmember would have a positive attitude, a good work ethic, and be flexible to changes and new situations.
If you would like to improve and add to your skills and knowledge base to be a better candidate, the following are some suggestions:
| 1. STCW Course |
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping(STCW) for Seafarers sets minimum qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships and large yachts.
You can find courses near you by searching online. |
| 2. First Aid and CPR |
Online courses: http://www.ptitraining.net
Local classes: Red Cross or equivalent organization
Literature: “First Aid, CPR, and AED Essentials”(4th Ed) by Alton L. Thygerson |
| 3. Knot tying |
Literature: Handbook of Knots by Des Pawson/Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd |
| 4. Seamanship |
Literature: Chapman Piloting and Seamanship (65th Ed) by Elbert S. Maloney
Able Seamen Certification Classes:
USCG Approved Able seaman classes or international equivalent. Upon completion of the course you will be knowledgeable in the
following areas:
- Basic Marine Navigation
- Deck Procedures and Safety
- Survival at Sea
- Knot Tying
|
Get Involved:
You can “get your foot in the door” by starting to volunteer from wherever you are now!
We strongly encourage all applicants to reach out to their local chapters to see if our onshore teams can use their help on the ground or with local campaigns. If you would like to find a chapter near you, click here.
Costs:
Applicants who are accepted to crew must pay for their travel to and from their assigned vessel. Our vessels may not return from the same port in which they left so we ask all crew members to ensure they have adequate savings so that they can easily travel home once their role has finished or in case of an emergency.
While we have medical teams on board during campaigns, crew members are responsible for any other medical service required and may wish to invest in an insurance that protects them while they are working or traveling within their role. We are unable to provide recommendations or advice in relation to insurance. If you require any special medication you will need to ensure that you bring this medication with you as our ships medical supplies are limited and do not accommodate for crew members with ongoing medication needs.
Applicants who are accepted to crew are also responsible for their own visa applications and costs. All Applicants must have and maintain a valid passport. As our ships dock all around the world there is no way to predict where Applicants may end up if they are selected for crew.
If you are accepted and join one of our vessels, you will be provided with a bunk and three vegan meals a day.