Crewing Manager
Abhilash Sebastian
ARGONAUT SHIP MANAGEMENT & OPERATION LLC
Dubai
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeContract WorkLocation Preference
On-SiteHybridLocation:
Dubai, UAEOpen to relocation:
YesSummary
Crewing Manager with 14+ years of international experience in crew management, marine HR, workforce planning, recruitment, crew welfare, and maritime compliance across offshore support vessels, workboats, tankers, and container ships.
Proven track record managing multinational crew pools of up to 2,600 seafarers, supporting fleets operating across Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Black Sea, Asia, India, China, Southeast Asia, Caspian Sea, Red Sea, and Arabian Gulf.
Extensive experience working within highly multicultural environments, managing seafarers from Europe, CIS countries, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East while coordinating worldwide crew changes, mobilisations, and compliance requirements.
Strong knowledge of STCW, MLC 2006, Flag State requirements, offshore project mobilisation, ADNOC compliance, crew welfare, and stakeholder management. Experienced in building strong relationships with vessel owners, masters, manning agencies, maritime authorities, training providers, and offshore clients.
13
Years of experience
1
Certification
Work History
Crewing Manager
3 Years 5 Months- Manage end-to-end crewing operations for a fleet of 9 internationally trading tanker vessels.
- Coordinate multinational crews comprising Indian, Ukrainian, Russian, Filipino, Pakistani and other nationalities.
- Plan and execute crew changes, travel logistics, visas, mobilisations, and emergency replacements worldwide.
- Ensure compliance with STCW, MLC 2006, Flag State, and company requirements.
- Manage recruitment, succession planning, promotions, performance reviews, and crew welfare initiatives.
- Liaise with shipowners, vessel masters, manning agencies, training providers, and maritime authorities.
Senior Coordinator - Crew Management
6 Years- Managed crew administration, workforce planning, recruitment, deployment, and crew welfare for container vessels trading globally.
- Coordinated worldwide crew changes while maintaining uninterrupted vessel operations.
- Managed certification compliance, promotions, performance evaluations, and succession planning.
- Worked closely with vessel management teams, technical departments, masters, and global manning partners.
- Supported multicultural crews across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and CIS regions.
- Ensured compliance with STCW, MLC, ILO, and Flag State requirements.
HR / Crewing Officer
4 Years 4 Months- Managed crewing, mobilisation, recruitment, and workforce planning for offshore support and workboat operations.
- Coordinated offshore project manning and vessel crew changes across multiple operating regions.
- Ensured compliance with ADNOC requirements, STCW, MLC, security passes, medicals, and Flag State regulations.
- Maintained strong relationships with offshore operations teams, clients, manning agencies, and maritime authorities.
- Supported payroll administration, employee relations, training compliance, and crew welfare initiatives.
- Participated in ISO, ISM, and financial audits.
Recruitment Consultant
8 Months- Managed end-to-end recruitment activities for marine and offshore clients.
- Conducted candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and mobilisation.
- Coordinated travel, visa, and employment documentation requirements.
- Developed talent pipelines and maintained long-term candidate relationships.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Human Resource Management & Marketing
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Industrial Relations, Economics & Sociology
Skills
Offshore & Workboat Crewing
Tanker & Container Fleet Crewing
Crew Recruitment & Workforce Planning
Crew Mobilisation & Global Crew Changes
STCW
MLC & Flag State Compliance
Crew Welfare & Employee Relations
Stakeholder & Client Management
Multinational Crew Management
Offshore Project Support
Maritime HR & Talent Acquisition
Crew Inspector
APRO
GAC Pay
ISF Watchkeeper
Certification
- MLC 2006 & STCW Compliance
- Human Factors & Interviewing skills
- ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015
- NEBOSH International General Certificate
Professional Networks
Founder & Administrator - ADNOC & ARAMCO Certified Crew Network, Maritime professional network with more than 60,000 members worldwide. Supports recruitment, networking, and knowledge sharing across offshore, tanker, marine, and shipping sectors.
Timeline
Crewing Manager
ARGONAUT SHIP MANAGEMENT & OPERATION LLC
04.2023 - Current
Senior Coordinator - Crew Management
HAPAG-LLOYD AG (FORMERLY UASC)
03.2017 - 03.2023
Recruitment Consultant
IPS POWERFUL PEOPLE
07.2015 - 03.2016
HR / Crewing Officer
GAC MARINE LLC
02.2011 - 06.2015
Fisat Business School
Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Human Resource Management & Marketing
St. Joseph's University
Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Industrial Relations, Economics & Sociology