SSTG On-board Cash Advances and Purchases Policy.

Introduction:

This note provides information on cash advances and other purchases that may be made by trainees whilst appointed to any vessel whilst enrolled on a training programme under the auspices of the SSTG.

Many companies provide facilities for trainees to take cash advances against their training allowance whilst appointed to any vessel. Such facilities will often provide for cash to be taken in the form of the local currency appertaining to the port where the vessel is at the time. Often there is a maximum amount which you might be allowed to dare and the amount might differ from ship to ship or even port to port.

Many companies provide facilities to purchase a small number of goods or services whilst appointed to any vessel. Examples may include stationery, the making of personal telephone calls, etc.

No ship owner or operator will provide the trainee with any guarantees that the above will be provided in any particularly port or to the range of goods or services that might be available which will be dependent on suppliers and other factors entirely outside the control of the ship owner or operator.

All cash advances taken or goods or services purchased will need to be paid for and trainees must ensure they have the funds available to reimburse the ship owner or operator at the time they are required to do so. Many ship owners are prepared to make deductions from any training allowance received by the trainee, although any particular system operated by the ship owner must be followed if they wish to utilise any such facilities that may be available. E.g. you may be asked to settle any amounts due immediately by cheque.

Cash advances made against your training allowance or any goods or services purchased may have been processed in the local currently applying to the vessel or country in which the vessel was situated at the time. The conversion rate applying will be that utilised by the company in recording such financial transactions and no guarantee can be given that any particularly rate will be used. You may also find that this information is routinely not available to the ships staff at the time, the currency conversion only being applied by office staff at a later date.

Vessels operate a variety of accounting systems, although recording transactions on a voyage by voyage or month by month basis are the most common used. You must accept that it may take a considerable period for transactions to be deducted from any training allowance where this facility is provided and where accounts are kept on a voyage basis you may find a considerable number of transactions processed in any one month after completion of a long voyage.

It is your responsibility to maintain a detailed record of cash advances and purchases of any goods or services purchased which are outstanding with a view to ensuring you have the means to pay any sums due at the time required.

If you do not agree to the forgoing you must not utilise any such system provided on the vessels on which you serve.

Any queries should in the first instance be addressed to your Training Officer.

Updated:     14 May 2024