A seafarer’s salary can reach the bank account through different arrangements depending on the shipowner, RPSL company, employment structure, and banking setup. In many cases involving Indian seafarers, the company handling recruitment and crewing in India may be different from the actual shipowner operating the vessel. Understanding who pays your salary, which account receives it, and whether payment is made directly or through the RPSL company can help you manage your earnings more clearly.
An RPSL company in India may handle recruitment, documentation, joining formalities, and other crewing-related responsibilities for a seafarer. However, the RPSL company handling your recruitment does not necessarily own the vessel on which you are sailing. The actual shipowner may be a completely different company based outside India.
Suppose the actual shipowner is Company X, located outside India, while Company Y is the RPSL company handling crewing in India. The seafarer may interact mainly with Company Y during recruitment, documentation, medicals, and joining, even though the vessel belongs to or is operated by Company X.
This distinction is important because the salary payment arrangement can depend on the agreement between these companies. The money may either pass through the RPSL company or, in some cases, be transferred directly by the employer or shipowner.
Under one possible arrangement, the foreign shipowner transfers the required salary funds to the RPSL company in India. The RPSL company then credits the applicable salary into the seafarer’s bank account according to the employment and payroll arrangement.
The RPSL company may separately receive an agreed crewing or management fee under its commercial arrangement with the shipowner. For the seafarer, the important point is to understand the salary stated in the employment agreement and ensure that the correct amount is being credited according to the agreed terms.
Yes, in some employment arrangements the salary may be transferred directly into the seafarer’s bank account rather than passing through the Indian RPSL company.
The exact system depends on how the shipowner and employer have organised payroll. This is why two Indian seafarers working for different companies may have completely different salary-credit arrangements even if both are sailing internationally.
Depending on the seafarer’s banking and income situation, salary may be received in an NRE account, NRO account, or another appropriate bank account. The account being used can depend on the seafarer’s circumstances and the banking arrangement available to them.
A seafarer who has mainly worked in India or earned Indian income, such as someone working on coastal vessels, may simply have a regular savings account. In such a case, salary may continue to be credited into that account according to the employer’s payment arrangement.
An NRE account is commonly associated with individuals who have the required non-resident banking status and want to maintain eligible foreign earnings through an Indian bank account. Many internationally sailing seafarers therefore hear about NRE accounts when arranging their banking.
However, the correct type of account depends on the individual seafarer’s residency, income, and banking circumstances. Seafarers should understand their own situation rather than opening or using an account simply because another seafarer is doing the same.
An NRO account is another type of account that may be relevant depending on a seafarer’s financial circumstances. A person may have Indian-source income or other financial transactions that need to be managed separately.
The main point for seafarers is that NRE and NRO accounts serve different purposes, and the right banking arrangement depends on the nature of income and the individual’s situation. The salary-credit method used by the company should also be understood clearly.
In some cases, yes. A seafarer who has been working primarily with an Indian company, sailing on coastal vessels, or earning income under an Indian employment arrangement may use a normal savings account.
Not every seafarer automatically has the same banking setup. The account used should match the seafarer’s employment, banking, and financial circumstances.
Some shipping companies are also offering arrangements that work like a salary wallet. Instead of automatically transferring the entire salary into the seafarer’s bank account every month, the earned amount may remain available within the company’s salary system or wallet until the seafarer requests a transfer.
For example, suppose a Captain earns $10,000 per month and sails for six months. The total earning would be $60,000. Under a salary-wallet arrangement, some or all of this amount may remain available in the wallet, and the seafarer can request transfer according to the facility provided by the company.
One reason may be flexibility over when money is transferred. A seafarer may prefer to keep some earnings in the salary wallet and request a bank transfer later instead of automatically receiving the full amount every month.
For example, a seafarer receiving salary in US dollars may watch the exchange rate and choose when to request conversion or transfer, if the company’s system allows such flexibility. The exact features, charges, conditions, and transfer rules can differ between companies.
Before joining a vessel, understand who your actual employer is, who will credit your salary, which currency will be used, which bank account is registered, and whether payment will come through the RPSL company or directly from the foreign employer.
Also check your Seafarer Employment Agreement for the agreed salary, allowances, payment frequency, and other payroll terms. Do not rely only on verbal information received during recruitment.
Keep copies of salary slips, bank-credit records, employment contracts, and any salary statements provided by the company. These documents can help you track whether the correct amount has been paid and can also become useful for future banking or financial documentation.
Your family should also know the basic salary arrangement, especially if you spend several months onboard. Good financial organisation makes it easier to understand where your money is coming from and how it is being managed.
A seafarer’s salary may be credited through an RPSL company, directly by the employer or shipowner, or through a salary-wallet arrangement, depending on the company structure. The bank account used may also differ according to the seafarer’s circumstances. Before joining, understand who pays you, how often you will be paid, where the money will be credited, and what your employment agreement says. Sailor Pro app , an initiative by Merchant Navy Decoded, can help seafarers stay more organised and confident in financial planning.
It is a welfare scheme that provides financial assistance to the nominee or eligible beneficiary after the death of an eligible Indian seafarer.
For eligible death cases occurring on or after 27 January 2026, the benefit can be up to ₹6,00,000, subject to official rules and eligibility.
The benefit is generally paid to the nominee registered for the last voyage before death. If nominee details are not available, legal heir certificate rules may apply.
For deaths occurring on or after 27 January 2026, the death should fall within 36 months from the date of sign-off from the last vessel, subject to scheme conditions.
For death cases on or after 31 May 2022, the application should be submitted within three years from the date of death.
Nominee details are important because the benefit is paid according to the nominee registered for the last voyage. Wrong or outdated nominee details can create problems for the family.
Disclaimer :- The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and may not necessarily reflect those of Merchant Navy Decoded. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and disclaim any responsibility for it. Data and visuals used are sourced from publicly available information and may not be authenticated by any regulatory body. Reviews and comments appearing on our blogs represent the opinions of individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Merchant Navy Decoded. We are not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on these reviews or comments.
Reproduction, copying, sharing, or use of the article or images in any form is strictly prohibited without prior permission from both the author and Merchant Navy Decoded.
Decoded Discount Alert! up to 50% OFF
Decoded Discount Alert! up to 50% OFF
Use Coupon Code Deep50
