Ship's officer keeping watch on the bridge at dusk

Independent crew management

Independent crew management.
Personal by nature.

An international crew management partner for shipowners and ship managers — combining global expertise with personal commitment, operational flexibility and transparent communication.

Martracon is an independent international crew management partner to shipowners and ship managers. We handle the full crewing function — from recruitment and planning to payroll, travel, documentation and compliance — as one accountable team.

Compliance

MLC 2006 certified by RINA

Accountability

A named crew manager for your fleet.

Experience

Management with former Masters and marine engineers.

The situation

Crewing decides more of your operating result than it used to

Qualified officers are harder to secure. Regulatory and reporting requirements keep growing. Trading patterns change faster than crew planning cycles were designed for.

When crewing works, it is invisible. When it does not, it shows up as delayed reliefs, unplanned costs, inspection findings and a fleet that no longer feels predictable.

What owners tell us they miss is not scale. It is a clear answer from someone who knows their vessels — and who is still there the next time they call.

Seafarers shaking hands during a crew handover on the deck of a cargo vessel

Our approach

One accountable team behind every vessel.

You deal with one team, one plan and one set of people who stay responsible for your fleet from the first conversation onward.

One named crew manager

A person who knows your vessels, your rotation patterns and your reporting preferences — and who is still there the next time you call.

Direct access to decision-makers

You speak with senior management, not a queue. The people who make commitments on your fleet are the people you can reach.

A global network, one team

Offices in Germany, Cyprus, Norway, Poland and the Philippines operate as a single team around your vessels.

Operational judgement on board and ashore

Our nautical and technical superintendents have sailed. Crewing decisions are made by people who understand the consequences.

What we do

Crew management, built around your fleet

Full Crew Management is the core service, and it already covers selection, planning, training, travel, documentation and payroll.

All services

The core service

Full Crew Management

End-to-end responsibility for your crew, covering recruitment, planning, contracts, payroll, travel, documentation, compliance and the day-to-day coordination that keeps your vessels operating smoothly.

What this includes

A dedicated crew manager as your named point of contact
Recruitment, screening and rotation planning tailored to your operational requirements
Employment contracts, MLC and flag-state compliance administration
Training and crew development through accredited institutions
Travel arrangements, visas, certificates and flag documentation
Payroll, wage payments, allotments and eWallet solutions
Transparent reporting on crew performance, planned reliefs and operational status

Each of these is included in Full Crew Management, and each can also be taken on its own alongside your existing manager.

Crew Manning

Vetted officers and ratings supplied to your own management structure, screened by people who understand what happens on board.

Explore Crew Manning

Payroll & Crew Payments

Accurate, on-time payment and clean administration — including an optional seafarer e-wallet for digital wage payouts and family transfers.

Explore Payroll & Crew Payments

Travel & Flag Documentation

Crew movements and paperwork handled end to end, so reliefs happen on the date they were planned for.

Explore Travel & Flag Documentation

Independent by conviction

Built to put customers first.

Our independence means decisions are made with your fleet in mind — not influenced by vessel ownership, group priorities, or internal competing interests.

No own tonnage.

We do not operate vessels of our own, so we never compete with our clients for crews or priority.

Digital-first recruitment.

Global sourcing across every major seafaring nation, digitally supported screening and a final review by our recruitment team — not a single local office pool.

Transparent administration.

You see the same records we do: crew costs, documentation status and planned reliefs, shared as they develop.

Independent since 1993.

Privately held and owner-led. Same partners, same standards, a long-term view.

Why owners stay

The first year wins the contract. The next ten years are the point.

Long relationships are not an accident of goodwill. They are the result of continuity — in people, in crews and in how information is shared.

The same people, year after year

Owners stay because their contacts stay. Continuity in your crew management team means nobody has to re-explain the fleet every quarter.

Crews that come back

Fair treatment, accurate payroll and honest planning are why seafarers return to the same vessels — and why your on-board standard holds.

Transparent, not defensive

You see what we see: vacancies, planned reliefs, delays and the reasons behind them. No surprises presented after the fact.

Global network

Five offices. One line of accountability.

Our offices cover the owner relationship, crew operations, administration and seafarer sourcing. They are not independent branches competing for the same account — they are one team working on the same fleet.

Explore the network

Germany
Client relationships, commercial management, finance and strategic coordination.
Cyprus
Crew management, project coordination and accounting services.
Norway
Payroll services and support for Scandinavian clients.
Poland
Recruitment operations, crew support and maritime administration.
Philippines
Recruitment operations, documentation and seafarer support.

Martracon team in a meeting room overlooking the harbour, discussing fleet crewing

Changing manager

A change of crew manager does not have to unsettle the fleet

The risk in switching is operational, not commercial. We plan for that first — around scheduled reliefs, at a pace you control.

01
Review
We look at your current crewing setup — rotation patterns, ranks, nationalities, cost structure and pain points — and set out what we would do differently.
02
Plan
A written transition plan per vessel: retained crew, planned reliefs, documentation transfer, payroll cut-over and responsibilities on both sides.
03
Transfer
The handover is planned around your fleet, operating schedule and existing crew arrangements. Scope, sequencing and responsibilities are agreed in advance so the transition can be managed without unnecessary disruption.

If you are weighing a change, our practical guide to changing your crew management provider sets out what a transition involves, whoever you appoint.

How we work

Meet the management

The people behind your partnership

Crew management is built on relationships. At Martracon, you’ll work directly with experienced professionals who understand your operation, know your priorities, and remain your trusted point of contact throughout our partnership.

Philipp J. Boerger

Chief Executive Officer

Provides the strategic direction of Martracon while leading client partnerships and long-term business development. Committed to building trusted relationships and delivering exceptional service to shipowners and ship managers worldwide.

Fabian J. Krause

Chief Commercial Officer

Leads Martracon's commercial strategy, business development and client relationships. Focused on understanding each client's operational needs and developing long-term partnerships built on trust, transparency and responsiveness.

Sophie Antona

Projects and Senior Advisory Manager

Coordinates strategic projects and supports clients through fleet transitions, operational improvements and advisory initiatives. Ensures projects are delivered efficiently while maintaining the high service standards Martracon is known for.

Eleni Karnaou

Crewing Manager

Works closely with shipowners, managers and seafarers to coordinate crew planning, rotations and day-to-day crewing operations. Dedicated to ensuring continuity, efficiency and reliable support across every vessel.

Maria Christophi

Accounting Manager

Oversees crew payroll, financial administration and accounting processes with accuracy and professionalism. Ensures reliable financial support for both clients and seafarers while maintaining high standards of compliance.

Capt. Vitaliy Stasyuk

Recruitment Manager

A former Master Mariner with extensive seagoing experience, leading Martracon's recruitment and candidate selection. His operational background helps ensure every seafarer is assessed not only on qualifications, but also on practical suitability for each client's vessels.

Straight answers

The questions owners ask before they change anything

Many of our clients came to us after working with larger providers. They weren't necessarily looking for a different crew manager—they were looking for a different experience.

They wanted greater transparency, direct access to decision-makers, faster communication and a partner who understands their operation rather than treating them as just another account.

Every transition is carefully planned in close cooperation with the client. We develop a structured transition plan covering crew planning, documentation, payroll, certifications and reporting to ensure continuity throughout the process. Our objective is simple: a smooth handover with minimal operational impact and uninterrupted support for your vessels and crews.

The scope is set by your fleet, your operating schedule and your existing crew arrangements. We agree sequencing and responsibilities in advance — which vessels move when, how reliefs and documentation are handled, and when payroll responsibility transfers — so the handover is managed without unnecessary disruption.

We work with shipowners and ship managers operating container vessels, general cargo vessels, multipurpose vessels, bulk carriers and offshore vessels. Every operation is different, so we tailor our crew management services to your fleet's operational requirements, reporting preferences and long-term objectives rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution.

Are you a seafarer?

We are always interested in officers and ratings who want a stable career with owners who plan ahead.

Sail with Martracon Group

Crewing review

Let's look at your crewing together

Tell us about your fleet and what is not working the way it should. We will tell you honestly whether we are the right partner — and what we would do differently.

A review of your crewing setup, built on your fleet — not a template
No obligation and no NDA required to start the conversation
Direct contact with the senior people who would run your account

30 minutes. One partner. Zero sales pitch.

Independent crew management. Personal by nature.