DIRECT HIRING. FAIR CREWING.
TURTLE consolidates on a global level and provides the ground for more diverse and efficient recruitment.
Fair crewing. Mutual respect. We care.
As a team of industry professionals we at TURTLE enable seafarers to run a fair and self-determined recruitment process and offer reputable shipping companies direct hiring possibilities to global verified seafarers. Our job marketplace connects shipping companies and seafarers directly, based on a special match algorithm - on an equal footing and as partners.
TURTLE works transparently and is compliant with MLC 2006 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union. The company was established in 2022 by Isabelle Rickmers in Hamburg, Germany. A second location is in Gdynia, Poland.
TURTLE’s marketplace is constantly growing: Around 180,000 seafarers are registered on our platform and we are happy to have 40 shipping companies on board.
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Isabelle Rickmers
Founder & CEO
”Through TURTLE we enable people to connect and find each other directly in a timely and compliant way. Our company is set to provide a positive, intelligent and sustainable impact to the maritime industry.”
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Hugo Backmyr
Head of Product
”TURTLE is an effective and easy-to-use tool for compliant maritime direct hiring.”
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Claas-Heye Diekmann
Head of Compliance
“We want to provide ship owners with a fully transparent, compliant and efficient recruitment tool and support seafarers throughout their professional career with our product.”
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Gideon Wekesa
Full Stack Developer
"At TURTLE we provide a revolutionary digital platform that empowers and connects seafarers with reputable shipping companies globally in an inclusive, reliable, and transparent way."
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Alexander Held
Head of Commercial
“We are providing a unique matchmaking platform that is connecting shipping companies and seafarers in a direct and compliant way.”
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Alena Lavarde
Customer Success Manager
“While ships and employers might change, TURTLE remains a reliable and constant partner for crew members. With TURTLE, we are building a growing community among crew members and shipping companies worldwide.”
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Burcu Erdoğan
Customer Success Manager
“TURTLE is like a home port for shipowners who want to hire quickly, directly, and trustfully, and for seafarers who wish to achieve their career goals.” -
Merve Kutukoglu
Customer Success Manager
“A successful voyage starts with a skilled crew, and at TURTLE, we are here to make sure shipping companies have the right people on board.”
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Iryna Renkas
Customer Success Assistant
"TURTLE is the digital family for seafarers, supporting them and helping them to match with the best shipowners."
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Amelia Stanislawska
Marketing Manager
“We connect seafarers with reputable shipping companies, combining a digital tool with personal, professional support.”
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Christina Berg
Head of Communication
“TURTLE enables seafarers and shipping companies to come together directly on equal footing and as partners - for a more transparent and fairer recruitment process, in the interest of both sides.”
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Vanessa Checkwube
Customer Success Assistant
“We strive to create a world where shipping companies connect with seafarers with ease and professionalism.”
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Muhammad Imran
Full Stack Developer
“TURTLE focuses on meeting the needs of both seafarers and shipping companies by providing the best online recruitment solution for the maritime industry.”
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Illia Izmalkov
Operations Manager
“At TURTLE we provide and connect both sides of maritime, seafarers and shipowners, with modern solutions and high-quality management service. Being a part of TURTLE is to keep up with industry development.”
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Laura Danielska
Operations Manager
”At TURTLE we connect seafarers and shipping companies via a large digital platform. We ensure support and professional service at every stage of the recruitment process.”
TURTLE Values
From the very beginning our team had a common intrinsic attitude resulting in one purpose: Change the industry for the better. TURTLE stands for trust, quality, diversity, power and rebellion. We live these values towards our customers and within our team.
#Rebellion
Always question the status quo and be a pioneer!
We fight for human sustainability. We don’t believe that all from the past is proven and good. We are inventing the future of global maritime recruitment.
#Trust
Be the turtle’s shell for everyone!
You can rely on TURTLE. We keep data, opinions and information confidential. We are true to our word. We act in your interest. We take care of you.
#Quality
Always play fair and deliver the cherry on top!
TURTLE is thought-through, reliable and performing. We are professional and treat everyone with respect: always.
#Diversity
Always together at eye level!
TURTLE embraces and respects different mindsets and cultures. Everyone shall have the same chance. We appreciate different perspectives, leading to the best results.
#Power
Provide the key to opportunities for every individual!
TURTLE leverages the combined voices to empower every individual. We are changing the industry for the better.
TURTLE Awards
What drives us.
TURTLE is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for its own employees and for all seafarers. By doing so, we empower seafarers, who are key workers, to be treated fairly, have a self-determined hiring process with a reputable shipping company, and have a safe home for their data. We have a single belief: that fairness is for everyone.
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Gender equality
We want to stand up for diversity and believe in the power of mixed teams of being able to bring their whole selves into work. Gender diversity is on top of our agenda.
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Quality education
We seek to create an engaging environment, being a company where talented people can develop both personally and related to your job. This is also what we want for our seafarers and we are committed to it.
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Fair working conditions
TURTLE advocates for fair and equal working conditions both ashore and at sea.
All Aboard Alliance
TURTLE is member of the All Aboard Alliance
The members’ joint goal is to create a sustainable and innovative industry and be an attractive career choice. Diversity is part of TURTLE’s Key values. That is why we advocate industry action on this cornerstone topic. More Diversity is needed both at sea and onshore to face the challenges of the search for talent, the expectations of external stakeholders on the social part of ESG and innovation
in the fields of new energy.
International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)
TURTLE is member of ISWAN
ISWAN is an international maritime charity working to improve the lives of seafarers and their families with services, resources, strategies and advocacy. ISWAN operates SeafarerHelp – the number one free, confidential, 24/7/365, multilingual helpline providing help and support to seafarers and their families around the world.
TURTLE became a member of ISWAN because we are on a similar mission aiming to change seafarers’ life for the better. Joining forces can increase awareness of ISWAN and TURTLE and help seafarers navigate through their careers having their welfare in mind.
Advisory Board
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Willem Dekker
Over the last 25 years Willem held various managerial positions in the shipping industry. He started his career at P&O Nedlloyd in Rotterdam, later moved to Hamburg where over a period of 15 years he held various senior positions within the E.R. Group. His in-depth industry knowledge covers shipmanagement, procurement, chartering and sale & purchase.
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Andrej Henkler
Andrej started his career as right hand of the CEO of the Bertelsmann Group followed by co-leading the turnaround management of the German broadcasting network VOX. After quitting the corporate world, he became a serial entrepreneur: in the last 15 years Andrej invested in over 100 early-stage start-ups predominantly in the US and Europe making him an early backer of Palantir, Zipline, Qualia and the likes.
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Andreas Pres
Andreas has six years of consulting experience at the Boston Consulting Group in Munich and Chicago. He has been a member of executive boards (CEO/CFO) in listed companies for over ten years, runs his own consulting business and gained extensive experience among others in the financial services, shipping and media industries.
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Joshua Politis
Joshua brings nearly 20 years of international experience with a proven track record within the maritime and offshore energy industries in general management, commercial management, business & corporate development, and operations. He is currently Deputy Managing Partner at Transport Capital where he shares overall responsibility for the strategy and performance of the Group, as well as leading the firm’s venture capital and maritime decarbonisation activities.
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Christoph Toepfer
Christoph is CEO & Founder of Borealis Maritime, a maritime investment and ship management company based in London. Borealis is linking institutional capital to the global shipping markets. Christoph brings nearly 25 years of experience in the shipping industry and Borealis is the third company he founded, including an internet start-up in 1999. Prior to Borealis, Christoph was Managing Director of Allocean, a UK and Singapore based diversified shipping group.
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