In my experience, Starline Marine offered low salaries for ratings. The fleet was old, supplies were kept to a minimum, the office staff were strict, and there was no career progression.
I worked through Starline Marine in 2019 as an ordinary seaman. My first salary was paid only after about three months, although the money was eventually paid. Food was acceptable on the capesize vessels, but conditions on the smaller bulk carriers were much worse. I completed three contracts there, but I would not recommend joining the smaller bulk carriers.
I worked through Starline Marine as a deck rating. The salary was paid, but it was delayed by about a month and a half. The office treated crew members very poorly. The fleet was old and supplies were kept to a minimum.
I worked through Starline Marine on a bulk carrier. My contract was for 7 months plus or minus one month, but I stayed for 9 months and left without a proper replacement after filing a complaint report. When I requested a replacement after six and a half months, the request was refused and I was asked to stay because other crew members worked for a year or longer. After I refused, the company treated me as an undesirable candidate. There were also salary delays and problems with food.
I worked through Starline Marine on several vessels. The office treated crew very poorly, and food depended heavily on the captain. One captain managed to obtain better provisions but later left because of the pressure. The first salary could only be sent home after about two months, a $700 bond was withheld from the first salary, salary payments could be delayed, and there was little to no supply of spare parts, tools, and consumables. There was no real career progression except for people with personal connections, and the vessels were old Chinese-built ships.
I worked through Starline Marine for seven months. Overall it was more or less acceptable, but salary payments were delayed.
I worked through Starline Marine on bulk carriers. The engine department was generally fine, but the deck department worked until 18:00 and received no extra payment for washing down. The internet allowance was 1 GB per month, food was very basic, and water had to be paid for. The first salary was delayed, 1% was deducted from every salary, and a $600 deposit was withheld from the first payment and returned later. Crew changes were sometimes delayed by one or two months.
I worked one contract through Starline Marine and left after about three and a half months. The crew was acceptable and the food was quite light. While we were in Brazil, 2,700 litres of paint were stolen; after I left, several officers and the deck crew were dismissed because the company suspected that the paint had been sold. My experience with the office was extremely negative.