Odessa crewing agency placing officers and ratings on crude oil and product tankers and container vessels. Also handles visa and document support and legal consultation.
Dream Marine offered me a 26-year-old Aframax tanker whose condition in the photographs made it look even older. The vessel was in Venezuela at the time. They promised to check whether a higher salary was possible, but then stopped responding.
I joined a container vessel through the agency as an electrical technician. I was paid my salary normally and received a bonus at the end, and I did not pay the agency anything. The vessel was in poor condition, but I had originally agreed to join for 10 days and was asked to stay a little longer.
I worked through the agency on three contracts. It was not a very good agency, but it was possible to work through them.
I worked through the agency for one contract as a mechanic. The vessel was in very poor condition, and I left after three months. Most of the crew were Filipino.
I have worked through the agency for two different companies. They did not charge me a fee, and they offer vacancies for both ratings and officers. Salaries are average for bulk carriers and sometimes below average, depending on the company. Overall, the agency is workable, and I recommend it. I have also joined through them again.
I was sent to a container vessel through the agency and completed the contract as a Chief Officer. I had to pay money to leave the vessel.
I went through an interview with the agency and was offered a contract that looked attractive. They requested payment for a medical examination, and after receiving the money they blocked me. The representatives stopped responding after the payment.
The agency contacted me after apparently finding my CV on a job platform and offered me a Chief Officer position on a bulk carrier with urgent joining in Denmark. Their replies often took six hours or even until the next day. After connecting me with the operator, I was told that an enclosed-space-entry certificate had to be obtained urgently as an owner's requirement, and I was put in contact with a rude representative in Georgia. The whole process looked suspicious to me, although I cannot confirm that it was a scam.
A representative contacted me and asked me to send my documents by email. The email address did not work, and after I pointed this out, I was told to send the documents via WhatsApp instead.
I had an interview with a Greek representative before joining a container vessel. The agency fee was USD 800.