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Certified Seafarer and STCW Document Translation
Get your seafarer and STCW documents translated into English by a professional human translator, with a signed certification accepted by USCIS, courts and universities. Flat $24.95 per page and a 100% USCIS acceptance guarantee.
$24.95/page
Flat rate per page, up to 250 words. No hidden fees.
100% USCIS acceptance
Every certified translation is guaranteed to be accepted by USCIS.
24-hour delivery
Most 1-3 page documents are delivered within 24 hours. Same-day available.
What an STCW file actually contains
A seafarer's documents are a stack, not a certificate. A typical file holds a Certificate of Competency (CoC) with its endorsement, several Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) for basic safety training, advanced firefighting, survival craft, medical first aid and security awareness, a seafarer's medical fitness certificate, a seaman's book or discharge book recording sea service, and a flag state endorsement recognising a foreign CoC.
They come from different issuing authorities on different forms with different validity dates, and a receiving body reads them together. We translate the set and keep each document distinct rather than merging them.
The STCW code references are the content
Every certificate cites the STCW Convention regulation it was issued under — II/1, II/2, III/1, V/1-1, A-VI/1 and so on — and those references are what a maritime administration or an employer actually checks.
The regulation number tells the reader the capacity, the tonnage or propulsion limit and the level. A translation that drops it in favour of a job title has removed the verifiable content. We reproduce every code exactly as printed.
Limitations printed on the endorsement
A CoC endorsement carries limitations — near-coastal only, vessels under 500 gross tonnage, under 3,000 kW propulsion, no tankers — and those limitations define what the holder may lawfully do.
They are printed in small boxes and they are easy to skip. Missing one produces a translation that overstates a seafarer's qualification, which is a real problem in a hiring or a flag state file. We translate every limitation field.
Sea service, and the discharge book
A seaman's book records each engagement with the vessel name, IMO number, flag, gross tonnage, rank, and the dates and ports of sign-on and sign-off, stamped by the master.
That record is how sea time is proved for a licence upgrade, and the totals are counted from it. Stamps are frequently faint and handwritten. We transcribe each entry and mark what is illegible rather than guessing at a date that affects an endorsement.
Where these are needed
Translations of seafarer documents are ordinarily wanted by a flag state administration issuing a recognition endorsement, by a manning agency or shipowner, by the US Coast Guard for a credential application, and by consulates for a seafarer visa such as the US C-1/D.
Each has its own requirement about certification, so ask before ordering. We provide a signed certification of completeness and accuracy, which is what most of them want.
How it works
Upload a photo or a scan of your document, pick the language pair and check out online. You never have to mail originals: a legible copy is all we need.
A professional human translator, never machine translation, translates the document word for word and mirrors the layout of the original. Every certified translation ships with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy that meets the requirements of USCIS, courts and universities.
Your translation is delivered digitally, usually within 24 hours for documents of one to three pages, and same-day delivery is available. If anything needs adjusting, we revise it.
Certified vs. standard translation
A certified translation is a word-for-word translation accompanied by a signed statement attesting to its accuracy and completeness. It is what official bodies require: USCIS, courts, universities and government agencies. Certified translations are $24.95 per page, where a page is up to 250 words.
A standard translation is for business or personal use where certification is not needed, such as CVs, client intake forms or marketing material, and is billed at the same $24.95 per page of up to 250 words.
Frequently asked questions
Do you keep the STCW regulation numbers?
Yes. II/1, A-VI/1 and the rest are the verifiable content, and a job title is not a substitute.
What about the limitations on the endorsement?
Translated in full. A limitation defines what the holder may lawfully do and omitting one overstates the qualification.
My seaman's book stamps are faint.
We transcribe what is legible and mark what is not. We never guess a date that affects sea time.
Do I need the whole set translated?
Ask the receiving body. Some want only the CoC and endorsement; a licence upgrade usually needs the sea service record too.
Is this for the Coast Guard?
It can be. Confirm their current requirement for foreign documents before ordering, since it differs by credential.
Ready to get started?
Upload your documents and receive your certified translation, typically within 24 hours.