How to scan
- Use a scanner app or a real scanner — not a photo taken at an angle on a table.
- One PDF per document with a clear name: “Passport”, “Seaman’s book”, “STCW Basic Safety”.
- Readable: every stamp and date visible, no glare.
Where to keep them
- One cloud folder, with a password and two-factor protection on the account.
- A copy on a USB stick at home or with someone you trust.
- An offline copy on the phone for when there’s no internet.
- A table of expiry dates with a reminder 3 months before.
How to send them
Better a view-only folder link or one archive than ten photos in a messenger. Send only to the company’s official email: scammers hunt for seafarers’ document scans.
How I can help
I scan all your documents, build a neat folder, set up the cloud and security, an expiry table and a USB copy. Works for the whole family too.
FAQ
Questions and answers
Can I keep documents in WhatsApp?
Handy but unreliable: chats get lost when you change phones, and phone access means document access.
Which cloud should I use?
The one you already use, with two-factor protection turned on.
Should I encrypt?
For passport and bank details — yes, preferably. I’ll show you a simple way.
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