NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

Sea Shepherd is always grateful to have such a healthy influx of applications as this means we can be confident our vessels will always be crewed for our campaigns, however as we receive such a high volume of applications and only have limited positions available we are unable to provide a space for all applicants on board. It is likely that we will reach out with open positions a year or two after you have applied. 

Due to the high volume of applications we are receiving, our communications with applicants will be limited to confirming once an application is received and touching base if an applicant has been identified for a place on board. Outside of this if you have not heard from our team it means that nothing is currently available matching your skills and availability. 

If you are eager to get involved and do not have any maritime, vegan cooking or medical qualifications we still have many important and valuable positions within our onshore chapters worldwide.  To find a chapter near you please visit https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/global/locations/

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.

The fee may also be waived upon the discretion of our crewing coordinators for highly skilled applicants, being ticketed navigators or engineers. If you believe that you fall within this category, please contact 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.  All applications must be completed in English.

Volunteer Crewmember Application Qualifications
To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

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
We first look at the “Dates Available” area on all applications, as we are usually filling positions for a specific period of time. We would also consider anyone that has written “Open” or “Any time” in the Dates Available field. The minimum commitment is at least one month with a maximum of 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:

1. Bridge.
2. Deck.
3. Engine Room.
4. Galley.
5. Communications.
6. Media.
7. 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--a few days to a few weeks at best. 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. 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
2. Knot tying	Literature: Handbook of Knots by Des Pawson/Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd
3. 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. While we cannot provide any advice in relation to visa costs, requirements or processes, we suggest that Applicants do not worry about obtaining a visa until they are selected for crew and know which country they will be docked in.

If you are accepted and join one of our vessels, you will be provided with a bunk and three vegan meals a day.

If you suffer from any allergies, please detail them on the next page.

Other costs may arise if you wish to purchase personal items such as clothing, tools, food, travel or entertainment.

I certify that I have given true and accurate information in this application, and that by signing and submitting this application I have understood and agreed to the expectations.

In the event that confirmation is needed in connection with this application, I authorize Sea Shepherd Global to contact any of my educational, employment, or personal references that I have provided, as well as registration and license boards and others to furnish information concerning my statements made in this application.

I understand that false information may be grounds for rejection of my application and/or grounds for immediate dismissal from Sea Shepherd Global.