FAQ: crew credentials and verification

Question 1

What is VerifiedCrew?

Accepted Answer

VerifiedCrew is a digital platform for maritime professionals to store, verify, and share their credentials. Your certificates, sea time records, and qualifications live in one secure wallet that you control.

Question 2

How do I create my credential wallet?

Accepted Answer

Sign up with your email, complete identity verification, and start uploading your certificates. The platform guides you through each step and validates document formats automatically.

Question 3

Is VerifiedCrew free for seafarers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The credential wallet is free for individual crew members. You can store, organize, and share your documents at no cost. Verification services are paid by the requesting party, typically your employer or agency.

Question 4

How do I share my credentials with an employer?

Accepted Answer

Generate a secure share link from your wallet. You control what documents are included, how long the link stays active, and you can revoke access at any time. Employers see verified status without needing your original documents.

Question 5

What documents can I store in my wallet?

Accepted Answer

Any maritime credential: STCW certificates, Certificates of Competency, medical fitness certificates, sea service records, flag state endorsements, safety training certificates, and more. The platform supports all standard document formats.

Question 6

What is a verified credential?

Accepted Answer

When you complete a verification — identity, background check, training certificate — VerifiedCrew creates a verified credential. Each one carries a tamper-proof seal that proves it is real without needing your original documents. Verifiers (employers, captains, port officials) can confirm the credential is genuine just by scanning a QR code or opening a share link. Each share expires after 15 minutes or one scan, whichever comes first. You can revoke any share at any time from your wallet.

Question 7

How does VerifiedCrew help with crew compliance?

Accepted Answer

The platform continuously monitors crew credential status across your fleet. You get alerts before certificates expire, automated compliance reports, and a single dashboard showing the verification status of every crew member.

Question 8

Can I verify credentials for my entire fleet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Enterprise plans support unlimited crew members across multiple vessels. Bulk verification, fleet-wide compliance dashboards, and automated expiry tracking are all included.

Question 9

How does the verification process work for employers?

Accepted Answer

When a crew member shares their credentials with you, the platform runs a 4-layer verification: identity confirmation, background screening, AI document validation, and source verification against issuing authorities. You receive a clear verified or flagged status.

Question 10

Does VerifiedCrew integrate with our existing systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer API integrations for crew management systems, HR platforms, and port state control databases. Our team works with you to connect VerifiedCrew to your existing workflows.

Question 11

What compliance standards does VerifiedCrew cover?

Accepted Answer

The platform supports STCW, MLC 2006, ISM Code, and flag state requirements. Compliance rules are updated as regulations change, so your verification standards stay current without manual updates.

Question 12

What is the 4-layer verification system?

Accepted Answer

VerifiedCrew uses four independent verification layers: identity verification (biometric ID check), background screening (criminal and sanctions checks), AI document validation (detecting forgeries and inconsistencies), and source verification (confirming credentials directly with issuing authorities).

Question 13

How long does verification take?

Accepted Answer

Identity and document validation complete in minutes. Background screening typically takes 1 to 3 business days. Source verification with issuing authorities varies by country and institution, usually 2 to 5 business days.

Question 14

What happens if a credential fails verification?

Accepted Answer

The credential is flagged with a detailed explanation of what failed and why. The crew member is notified and can provide additional documentation or contact the issuing authority to resolve discrepancies. Nothing is shared with employers until the issue is resolved.

Question 15

How does AI document validation work?

Accepted Answer

Our AI analyzes uploaded documents for formatting consistency, security features, data integrity, and cross-references information against known certificate templates from maritime training institutions worldwide. It detects alterations, expired formats, and data mismatches.

Question 16

Do credentials need to be re-verified?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Maritime credentials expire and require periodic renewal. VerifiedCrew tracks expiry dates and triggers re-verification automatically. The platform alerts both the crew member and their employer well in advance of any expiration.

Question 17

How secure is my credential wallet?

Accepted Answer

Your wallet uses end-to-end encryption, and data is stored in SOC 2 compliant infrastructure. Only you control who can access your documents. We never share your information without your explicit consent.

Question 18

Can I access my wallet from any device?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your wallet is accessible from any web browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile. Your credentials sync across all your devices automatically.

Question 19

What happens to my documents if I cancel my account?

Accepted Answer

You can export all your documents at any time. If you cancel, your data is retained for 30 days to allow recovery, then permanently deleted. Your original documents always remain yours.

Question 20

Can I organize my credentials into groups?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The wallet supports folders, tags, and custom groupings. You can organize by certificate type, vessel, employer, or any other category that makes sense for your career.

Question 21

What is the digital sea time logbook?

Accepted Answer

A digital record of your service at sea that replaces paper discharge books. It captures vessel details, rank, dates, and voyage information in a format that flag states and employers can verify instantly.

Question 22

Is a digital sea time record accepted by flag states?

Accepted Answer

Digital records are increasingly accepted as supporting documentation. VerifiedCrew generates formatted exports that meet the requirements of major flag states. The original discharge book remains the primary legal document, but the digital record provides a verifiable backup and simplifies applications.

Question 23

Can I import my existing sea time history?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can manually enter past service records or use the AI-assisted backfill feature that extracts data from photos of your discharge book pages. Each entry is validated for consistency and completeness.

Question 24

How does sea time verification work?

Accepted Answer

VerifiedCrew cross-references your sea time entries against vessel AIS data, port records, and employer confirmations. This creates a verified timeline that employers and authorities can trust without contacting each previous employer individually.

Question 25

Can my employer update my sea time records directly?

Accepted Answer

Employers with VerifiedCrew accounts can confirm and endorse sea time entries for crew who served on their vessels. This adds an employer-verified layer to your records.

Question 26

How much does VerifiedCrew cost?

Accepted Answer

The credential wallet is free for individual seafarers. Verification services are priced per check, and employer plans are tiered based on fleet size and verification volume. Contact us for enterprise pricing.

Question 27

Who pays for verification?

Accepted Answer

The party requesting verification pays. Typically this is the employer, management company, or recruitment agency. Crew members are never charged for verifications requested by others.

Question 28

Is there a free trial for employers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Employer accounts include a trial period with a set number of free verifications so you can evaluate the platform with real crew data before committing to a plan.

Question 29

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit cards, bank transfers, and invoicing for enterprise accounts. All payments are processed securely through our PCI-compliant payment infrastructure.

Question 30

How is my data protected?

Accepted Answer

All data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256). Our infrastructure runs on SOC 2 Type II certified cloud providers with data residency options in multiple regions.

Question 31

Does VerifiedCrew sell my data?

Accepted Answer

No. We never sell, share, or monetize your personal data. Your credentials are only shared with parties you explicitly authorize. Our revenue comes from verification services, not data.

Question 32

Can I control who sees my information?

Accepted Answer

You have full control. Every share link you create specifies exactly which documents are visible, for how long, and you can revoke access instantly. You can see a log of who accessed your credentials and when.

Question 33

What happens in case of a data breach?

Accepted Answer

We maintain an incident response plan and will notify affected users within 72 hours of confirming a breach, as required by GDPR and maritime data protection regulations. Regular penetration testing and security audits minimize this risk.

Question 34

Is VerifiedCrew GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We comply with GDPR, and our data processing agreements are available for enterprise customers. You can request data export or deletion at any time through your account settings.

Question 35

What systems can VerifiedCrew integrate with?

Accepted Answer

VerifiedCrew integrates with crew management systems, HR platforms, payroll software, and port state control databases. We support standard REST APIs and can build custom connectors for enterprise clients.

Question 36

Is there a public API?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our REST API lets you programmatically verify credentials, query crew status, and sync data with your internal systems. API documentation, sandbox environments, and client libraries are available for common languages.

Question 37

How do webhook notifications work?

Accepted Answer

You can subscribe to events like credential expiry, verification completion, or compliance status changes. VerifiedCrew sends real-time webhook notifications to your endpoint so your systems stay in sync without polling.

Question 38

Can I white-label the verification process?

Accepted Answer

Enterprise plans include white-label options. Your crew and partners interact with verification flows branded to your company, while VerifiedCrew handles the verification infrastructure behind the scenes.

Question 39

What authentication does the API use?

Accepted Answer

The API uses OAuth 2.0 with API key authentication. Each integration gets scoped permissions so you control exactly what data your connected systems can access. All API traffic is encrypted over TLS.

Question 40

What STCW certificates does VerifiedCrew support?

Accepted Answer

All STCW certificates including Basic Safety Training, Advanced Firefighting, Medical First Aid, Proficiency in Survival Craft, and all certificates of competency from STCW II through STCW VIII. The platform is updated as IMO amendments are adopted.

Question 41

How does VerifiedCrew track STCW renewal requirements?

Accepted Answer

The platform knows the validity period and renewal requirements for each certificate type. You get notifications when certificates approach expiry, with guidance on what is needed for renewal including any updated training requirements.

Question 42

Does VerifiedCrew support MLC 2006 compliance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The platform tracks Maritime Labour Convention requirements including employment agreements, hours of rest documentation, medical fitness certificates, and social security provisions. Employers get MLC compliance dashboards for their fleet.

Question 43

How are flag state endorsements handled?

Accepted Answer

Flag state endorsements are tracked as separate credentials linked to the underlying certificate. The platform monitors endorsement validity independently and alerts you when endorsements need renewal, even if the base certificate is still valid.

Question 44

Can VerifiedCrew help with port state control inspections?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The platform generates crew credential summaries formatted for port state inspectors. Having verified, organized documentation reduces inspection time and the risk of deficiencies related to crew certification.

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