Legal Notice, Privacy & Terms

VesselMate collects and processes the following categories of personal data, always limited to what is strictly necessary for platform operation:

• Account credentials — full name, email address, and cryptographically hashed password (bcrypt/argon2). OAuth tokens from Google Sign-In are processed transiently and never stored in plaintext.
• Professional maritime profile data — role/title, logged sea miles, vessel name, vessel length/type, home port location, compensation expectations, and biographical summaries (max 500 characters).
• Certification documents — uploaded STCW, RYA, MCA, ENG1, and other maritime qualification documents submitted for OCR-based verification. Original files are deleted from active storage within 30 days of verification completion.
• Encrypted messaging metadata — E2EE chat room identifiers, message timestamps, and participant user IDs. Message payloads are end-to-end encrypted; VesselMate operates a zero-knowledge architecture and cannot access plaintext message contents.
• Platform analytics — anonymized page view counts, feature usage metrics, and error telemetry. These are only collected after explicit cookie consent via our consent banner and are processed by Vercel Analytics on EU-hosted edge infrastructure.
• Payment metadata — Stripe checkout session IDs, plan tier selections, and purchase timestamps. Full payment instrument details (card numbers, CVC) are never transmitted to or stored by VesselMate servers.

• Article 6(1)(b) — Contractual Necessity: Processing of account data, profile details, certification documents, and messaging metadata is necessary for the performance of the VesselMate platform service contract between the user and the operator.
• Article 6(1)(a) — Explicit Consent:Cookie-based analytics are only activated after the user affirmatively clicks "Accept All" on the cookie consent banner. Consent is recorded in local storage and may be withdrawn at any time by clearing browser storage.
• Article 6(1)(f) — Legitimate Interest:Processing for fraud prevention, platform security monitoring, abuse detection, and legal compliance is conducted under the operator's legitimate interest, balanced against user rights and freedoms.

Under GDPR, VesselMate users maintain the following enforceable rights:

• Right of Access (Art. 15): Obtain confirmation of processing and a copy of personal data.
• Right to Rectification (Art. 16): Correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Erasure (Art. 17): Request deletion of personal data ("right to be forgotten").
• Right to Restrict Processing (Art. 18): Limit processing under specific circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability (Art. 20): Receive data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object (Art. 21): Object to processing based on legitimate interest or direct marketing.

All rights requests should be directed to support@vesselmate.net with the subject line "GDPR Request." VesselMate commits to responding within 30 calendar days maximum, in accordance with Article 12(3) GDPR. Users also retain the right to lodge a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) at www.aepd.es.

• Active accounts:Account data, profile details, and messaging metadata are retained for the duration of the user's active account status.
• Account deletion: Upon verified account deletion request, all personal data is permanently purged from primary storage, backups, and logs within 90 calendar days.
• Certification documents: Uploaded certification files are deleted from active storage within 30 days of verification completion. Verification result metadata (pass/fail, document type, date) is retained for platform integrity purposes.
• Payment records: Stripe transaction metadata is retained for the duration required by Spanish tax law (6 years for commercial records under Código de Comercio Art. 30).
• Analytics data:Anonymized analytics telemetry is retained for a maximum of 25 months in accordance with Vercel's data retention policy.

VesselMate utilizes Vercel Edge Network infrastructure with primary edge nodes located within the European Economic Area (EEA), specifically Frankfurt, Germany. All user data at rest is stored on EEA-based infrastructure. No personal data is transferred outside the EEA without appropriate safeguards, including EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) where applicable. VesselMate does not engage in onward transfers of personal data to third countries for secondary purposes.

VesselMate implements industry-standard technical and organizational security measures including: TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit, bcrypt/argon2 password hashing, HTTP-only secure session cookies with SameSite=Strict, end-to-end encryption (X25519 + AES-256-GCM) for all private chat messages, Cloudflare DDoS protection, and regular security audits. Access to personal data is strictly limited to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis.

By creating an account, posting a listing, or otherwise accessing VesselMate services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, you must discontinue use of the platform immediately. These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User") and VesselMate Digital Operations ("Operator").

• Users must be at least 16 years of age to create an account.
• Users must provide accurate, truthful, and complete registration information, including professional maritime credentials, certification details, and vessel specifications where applicable.
• Each user is limited to one account. Duplicate, shared, or impersonating accounts are prohibited and subject to immediate termination.
• Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials and for all activity occurring under their account.

All user-posted content — including crew profiles, vessel listings, adventure board threads, and private messages — must adhere to the following standards:

• Listings must accurately represent the vessel, position, compensation, location, and requirements offered or sought. Fraudulent, misleading, or "bait-and-switch" listings are strictly prohibited.
• Certification claims must be verifiable. Users claiming STCW, RYA, MCA, ENG1, or equivalent qualifications may be required to submit documentation for verification.
• Posting of illegal content, harassment, hate speech, spam, phishing links, malware, or any content violating applicable laws is prohibited and will result in immediate account termination.
• Users must respect the confidentiality of E2EE private communications. Screen-capturing, forwarding, or publishing private chat contents without all participants' consent is a violation of these terms.
• Commercial solicitation outside the designated Sponsor and Upgrade channels is prohibited. Users may not scrape, harvest, or bulk-message other users for external commercial purposes.

• Free Tier: 1 active listing, 3 new message contacts per day, basic search. Profile is ranked below Premium users in search results.
• Premium Visibility ($19/month): 5 active listings, 10 new message contacts per day, priority placement, verified badge, and 1 free Boost per month.
• Elite Automation ($49/month): Unlimited listings and messaging, profile pinned above all others, 3 free Boosts per month, priority support, and advanced analytics.
• Daily message quotas reset at 00:00 UTC. Users may always respond to existing conversations, regardless of daily new-contact limits.
• VesselMate reserves the right to adjust plan features with 30 days' notice. Users on subscription plans will be notified of changes affecting their tier.

VesselMate reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts found in violation of these terms, engaged in fraudulent, harassing, or illegal activity, or whose presence on the platform poses a risk to other users or platform integrity. Users may appeal moderation decisions by contacting support@vesselmate.net. Refunds for suspended accounts are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed for terms-of-service violations.

The VesselMate name, logo, platform interface design, matching algorithms, and original content are the intellectual property of VesselMate Digital Operations. Users retain ownership of content they post but grant VesselMate a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display and distribute that content within the platform for the purpose of operating the service. Users may request removal of their content by deleting their account.

VesselMate provides a platform for connection and communication between vessel owners and crew members. The Operator does not guarantee the accuracy of user profiles, the availability of listed positions, or the outcomes of any engagement facilitated through the platform. Users engage with each other at their own risk. VesselMate is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from platform use, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. VesselMate strongly recommends that all users verify credentials, conduct reference checks, and execute formal crew agreements independently of the platform.

All users — particularly vessel owners listing positions — must comply with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), including but not limited to minimum age requirements, hours of rest, repatriation obligations, and seafarer employment agreement standards. Users are solely responsible for ensuring their listings and crew engagements comply with flag state regulations, port state requirements, and applicable international maritime law. VesselMate is not an employer, crewing agency, or manning agent.

In accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), VesselMate strictly prohibits charging recruitment, placement, or onboarding fees to seafarers and crew members seeking employment. Accessing the platform, creating a crew profile, and applying for maritime positions on the Adventure Board is completely free for crew. All platform fees, premium subscription tiers, and visibility upgrades are billed exclusively to Vessel Owners, Captains, or Yacht Management Companies as software utility costs, and are never extracted as commissions from crew wages.

VesselMate operates in strict compliance with Regulation 1.4 and Standard A1.4 of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), as amended, regarding Seafarer Recruitment and Placement Services. In accordance with Standard A1.4, paragraph 5(a) and (b), VesselMate declares and warrants that:

• No placement fees are levied against crew members or seafarers. The VesselMate matching engine, crew profile creation, listing search, and messaging infrastructure is 100% free for crew members. No direct or indirect placement fees, recruitment charges, or commission deductions are ever imposed on seafarers for access to the platform, profile visibility, or connection with vessel owners.
• Premium tier purchases by crew are optional visibility upgrades, not placement fees. Crew members may voluntarily purchase Premium Visibility or Elite Automation plans for enhanced profile exposure and messaging capacity. These purchases are not required to create an account, browse listings, or connect with vessel owners. They do not constitute a placement fee, recruitment charge, or mandatory cost of accessing employment opportunities.
• Owner-paid plans fund platform operations. Subscription revenue from boat owners and captains funds all crew-facing free services, ensuring no seafarer is ever charged for basic platform access.

VesselMate is purely an introductory software pipeline utility. The platform operates as a digital marketplace connecting independent vessel operators with crew members for informational introduction purposes only. VesselMate is not, and does not hold itself out as:

• A licensed crewing agency, manning office, or seafarer recruitment and placement service (SRPS) under MLC Standard A1.4;
• An employer, joint employer, or staffing agency under any national or international labor law;
• Authorized to author, manage, negotiate, execute, or enforce Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEAs) on behalf of any party.

Any Seafarer Employment Agreement entered into between a vessel operator and crew member as a result of an introduction facilitated by VesselMate is exclusively between those parties. VesselMate is not a signatory to, guarantor of, or beneficiary under any such agreement.

The vessel master (Captain), registered owner, or operating company holds absolute statutory liability for:

• Crew working and living conditions — including but not limited to hours of work and rest (Standard A2.3), accommodation and recreational facilities (Standard A3.1), food and catering (Standard A3.2), and onboard medical care (Regulation 4.1);
• Repatriation obligations — under Regulation 2.5 and Standard A2.5 of the MLC 2006, including the cost of repatriation in the event of abandonment, illness, injury, or shipwreck;
• Seafarer Employment Agreement compliance — ensuring that any SEA executed with a crew member meets the minimum requirements of Standard A2.1, including clear terms of employment, wages, leave entitlement, and termination provisions.

By listing a position on VesselMate, vessel operators affirm that they have read, understood, and accepted these liability obligations. VesselMate strongly recommends that all captains conduct independent due diligence, verify crew credentials at the gangway, and execute formal SEAs prior to departure.

All crew certification data, professional qualification claims, logged sea miles, medical fitness declarations, and license information displayed on VesselMate profiles — including but not limited to STCW Basic Safety Training, RYA Yachtmaster (Coastal/Offshore/Ocean), MCA Certificates of Competency, ENG1 Medical Fitness certificates, VHF Radio licenses, and First Aid qualifications — are entirely user-submitted, self-reported, crowdsourced profile entries.

VesselMate provides an optional OCR-based document scanning utility as a convenience feature. The OCR scanner extracts text from uploaded documents and appends a platform-generated "Verified" badge to the user's profile. However:

• The verification badge indicates only that a document was uploaded and passed automated text extraction — it is not a substitute for physical inspection of original credentials.
• VesselMate does not independently audit, authenticate, verify, background-check, or validate any certification, license, or medical document submitted through the platform.
• The platform does not contact issuing authorities (MCA, RYA, flag state administrations, or maritime academies) to confirm the authenticity of submitted documents.
• Expiry dates, document numbers, and issuing authority names extracted by OCR are machine-read and may contain errors. Users are solely responsible for ensuring profile accuracy.

VesselMate explicitly disclaims any and all liability arising from reliance on platform-displayed certification data. Vessel operators are strongly advised to:

• Physically inspect original STCW, RYA, MCA, ENG1, and all other certification documents at embarkation;
• Verify that certificates are current, unexpired, and issued by recognized competent authorities under STCW Regulation I/2;
• Contact issuing authorities directly for verification where safety-critical roles (Master, Chief Mate, Chief Engineer) are concerned;
• Conduct independent reference checks with previous employers, captains, or crewing agents prior to engagement.

VesselMate bears no responsibility for incidents, accidents, detentions, port state control deficiencies, or insurance disputes arising from unverified or fraudulent crew credentials. The platform serves exclusively as an introduction tool; all hiring, safety, and compliance decisions rest solely with the vessel operator.

VESSELMATE FUNCTIONS SOLELY AS A PASSIVE VENUE FOR DIGITAL DOCUMENT HOSTING AND CREW MATCHING. THE PLATFORM DOES NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY, AUDIT, OR BACKGROUND-CHECK THE VALIDITY, AUTHENTICITY, OR EXPIRATION STATUS OF ANY USER-SUBMITTED MARITIME CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, SEAMAN LOGS, OR MEDICAL CLEARANCES. VESSEL OWNERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND CAPTAINS MAINTAIN THE ABSOLUTE, NON-DELEGABLE LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PHYSICALLY INSPECT, VET, AND VERIFY ALL ORIGINAL CREW CREDENTIALS BEFORE MARITIME ENGAGEMENT OR ALLOWING ANY USER ON BOARD. VESSELMATE DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, ENFORCEMENT PENALTIES, OR MARITIME COLLISIONS ARISING FROM FRAUDULENT OR UNVERIFIED USER DATA.

Crew members using VesselMate are required to provide truthful and accurate information in their profiles. Knowingly submitting false, expired, or fraudulent certification data, inflating logged sea miles, or misrepresenting qualifications constitutes a material breach of the Terms of Service and may result in immediate account termination and reporting to relevant maritime authorities. VesselMate reserves the right to remove profiles flagged for suspected credential fraud pending investigation.

Under Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (the Digital Services Act or "DSA"), VesselMate operates as an intermediary hosting service within the meaning of Article 3(g)(iii). The platform stores and disseminates information provided by recipients of the service — namely, vessel listings, crew profiles, adventure board threads, and user-to-user messages — at the direction of those users. VesselMate does not create, commission, or exercise editorial control over user-posted content beyond automated moderation filters and reactive takedown procedures.

As an intermediary hosting service established in the European Union (Spain), VesselMate complies with the due diligence obligations set forth in Chapter III of the DSA, including transparency reporting (Article 15), notice and action mechanisms (Article 16), and the designation of a single point of contact for Member State authorities and the European Commission (Article 11).

VesselMate maintains an active content moderation system. Users and third parties may submit notices regarding allegedly illegal content or listings that violate VesselMate's platform policies. The notice and action procedure is as follows:

• Submission: Notices must be submitted to support@vesselmate.net with the subject line "DSA Notice — Illegal Content" and must include a sufficiently precise description of the content, its URL or listing ID, and an explanation of why the content is considered illegal or policy-violating.
• Acknowledgment: VesselMate will acknowledge receipt within 3 business days and provide an initial assessment within 7 calendar days.
• Action: Where a notice provides sufficient grounds for action, VesselMate will remove or disable access to the flagged content expeditiously. The user who posted the content will be notified of the removal and the reasoning, and provided with an opportunity to appeal via the same contact channel.
• Transparency:Aggregate data on content moderation actions (number of notices received, actions taken, and appeals processed) will be published annually in VesselMate's DSA Transparency Report, available via the platform and the European Commission's Transparency Database.

• Maritime labour violations: Listings that propose or facilitate non-compliance with the MLC 2006 — including offers of unpaid positions below minimum wage requirements, systematic avoidance of rest hour regulations, or engagement of seafarers without valid SEAs.
• Visa & immigration law violations: Listings that encourage or facilitate crew members to enter territorial waters or disembark in contravention of Schengen visa requirements, port state entry regulations, or applicable customs and immigration laws.
• Human trafficking & forced labour: Any listing or communication facilitating human trafficking, modern slavery, debt bondage, or forced labour (as defined by ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) and its 2014 Protocol) will result in immediate account termination and referral to competent law enforcement authorities.
• Sanctions evasion: Listings involving vessels, ports, or jurisdictions subject to EU, UN, or OFAC sanctions regimes.
• Fraudulent listings: Fictitious vessels, non-existent positions, phishing schemes, or advance-fee fraud targeting crew members.

In compliance with Article 11 of the DSA, VesselMate designates the following as its single point of contact for Member State authorities, the European Commission, and the European Board for Digital Services:

Legal take-down requests, government notices, and law enforcement inquiries must be directed to the above address. VesselMate commits to responding to duly authorized government requests within the timeframes prescribed by applicable law.

All payment processing services for VesselMate — including subscription plan upgrades (Premium Visibility, Elite Automation), post boosts, availability badges, and urgent hire flags — are provided by Stripe, Inc., a PCI DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. VesselMate does not store, process, or transmit full credit card numbers, CVC codes, or bank account details on its own servers.

By initiating a payment on VesselMate, you agree to be bound by the Stripe Services Agreement and Stripe's Global Privacy Policy. Stripe may collect and process personal data including your name, email, payment method details, and device information in accordance with its own privacy policy.

All prices displayed on VesselMate are the total price inclusive of all mandatory charges. VesselMate enables automatic tax calculation via Stripe Tax, which determines applicable VAT based on the user's billing location in compliance with EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC. The complete pricing schedule is as follows:

• Subscription billing: Premium Visibility and Elite Automation plans renew automatically each month on the calendar day corresponding to the start of the subscription. A renewal invoice is generated by Stripe and sent to the billing email on file.
• One-time purchases: Post boosts, availability badges, and urgent hire flags are non-recurring, one-time charges. They do not auto-renew.
• Cancellation: Users may cancel their subscription at any time via their Stripe Billing Portal (accessible from the Profile page). Premium features remain active until the end of the current paid billing period. No partial-month refunds are issued for mid-cycle cancellations.
• Failed payments: If a subscription renewal payment fails, Stripe will retry according to its standard retry schedule. After multiple failed attempts, the account will be downgraded to the Free tier and premium features will be deactivated.

VesselMate offers a 14-day refund window for subscription plan upgrades from the date of the initial charge or renewal. One-time purchases (boosts, badges, flags) are generally non-refundable once the service has been activated (e.g., the boost has begun running). Refund requests must be submitted to support@vesselmate.net with the subject line "Refund Request" and must include the associated Stripe receipt ID. Refunds are processed via Stripe and typically appear on the original payment method within 5–10 business days.

Payment data is transmitted directly to Stripe via TLS-encrypted connections. VesselMate's Stripe integration uses the Stripe.js and Stripe Checkout (hosted payment page) methods, which ensure that sensitive payment details never touch VesselMate's servers. Stripe's processing infrastructure is certified to PCI DSS Level 1 — the highest level of certification available in the payments industry. VesselMate's server environment accesses only tokenized payment method references and transaction metadata.

All premium tier subscriptions (Premium Visibility, Elite Automation), Sponsor Hub visibility upgrades, listing promotions (Post Boost, Super Boost), Availability Badges, and Urgent Hire Flags sold through the VesselMate platform constitute intangible digital goods and programmatic exposure services. These purchases grant the buyer:

• Enhanced database ranking priority and search result positioning within the VesselMate matching engine;
• Increased daily messaging contact quotas and profile visibility features;
• Time-limited promotional flags and badges that increase listing prominence within the platform interface.

All premium marketplace transactions on VesselMate are final and non-refundable upon deployment. Deployment is defined as the moment the purchased service becomes active on the platform (i.e., the subscription tier upgrade takes effect, the boost begins running, the availability badge is applied to the profile, or the urgent flag is activated on the listing).

This no-refund policy is necessary to protect VesselMate's Stripe merchant profile from unwarranted "service not rendered" disputes, payment card chargebacks, and reversal claims arising from circumstances beyond the platform's control, including but not limited to:

• Uncooperative crew members who fail to respond to messages, attend interviews, or appear at embarkation;
• Dynamic vessel schedule adjustments, itinerary changes, or route cancellations initiated by the vessel operator;
• Weather-related delays, port closures, mechanical failures, or force majeure events affecting voyage plans;
• Changes in crewing requirements, position specifications, or compensation terms after listing publication;
• Buyer's remorse or a subjective determination that the purchased visibility did not result in a desired hiring outcome.

By completing a purchase through Stripe Checkout on VesselMate, the buyer explicitly acknowledges and agrees that they are purchasing intangible digital exposure services that are deemed fully delivered at the moment of platform activation, and that no refund, chargeback, or payment reversal will be sought on the basis of hiring outcomes, crew responsiveness, or voyage execution.

All financial transactions and premium dashboard purchases processed via Stripe are paid strictly for software feature utility, database access tools, and network visibility. VesselMate does not guarantee that Vessel Owners will successfully secure a matching crew candidate, nor does it guarantee that Crew Members will obtain a position. Payments are entirely decoupled from specific hiring outcomes. All sales are final, and chargebacks initiated under the claim of 'service not received' due to hiring outcomes are explicitly a violation of these Terms.

Payment processing services for all VesselMate transactions are provided by Stripe, Inc. and are subject to the Stripe Services Agreement. By initiating a payment, you agree to Stripe's terms, including their dispute resolution and chargeback procedures. In the event of a payment dispute, Stripe's determination shall be final and binding. VesselMate will provide Stripe with transaction metadata, service activation timestamps, and platform logs to substantiate service delivery in response to any payment dispute or chargeback claim.

Users may cancel their subscription at any time via the Stripe Billing Portal. Cancellation stops future renewal charges but does not entitle the user to a refund for the current billing period, which has already been served with active premium features. Premium features remain available until the end of the paid billing cycle, after which the account reverts to the Free tier.

For questions regarding billing, payments, or chargeback disputes, contact support@vesselmate.net with the subject line "Billing Dispute" and your Stripe receipt ID.