Arugula Marketplace for Maritime
Crew order by chat. The ship's agent delivers.
Seafarers send a list on WhatsApp while the ship is on its way to Singapore. We buy everything, the master approves one manifest, and the parcel rides the agent's next launch.
The problem
A ship spends a median of about 17 hours in Singapore. More than a quarter of seafarers get no shore leave at all. The crew still needs chargers, toiletries, food from home and the things that make months at sea easier.
How it works
- 1
The crew sends a list.
In plain words, on WhatsApp. Arugula finds each item and asks only where it matters: brand, size, quantity.
- 2
Every line is confirmed.
Nothing counts as an order until the seafarer confirms it.
- 3
One order per ship.
Orders are grouped by IMO number and arrival time. The cutoff is set from the agent's launch time, not the ship's departure.
- 4
The master approves.
At cutoff, the master receives one manifest and approves it before anything is bought.
- 5
One parcel, one launch.
We buy, consolidate and hand the parcel to the ship's agent with the printed manifest. The master signs the delivery note on board.
For ship managers
One sign-up per fleet.
Sign up once. We take your vessel list and port calls.
Name the agent per call. The agent you already appoint.
Choose how crew pay. From their own wallet, or from a welfare credit you set for each crew member.
Keep control on board. The master sees and approves every manifest before we buy.
For ship's agents
One parcel per call, with the paperwork done.
We deliver a single consolidated parcel and a printed manifest with the master's acknowledgement line. It rides a launch you have already scheduled.
For seafarers
Order before you arrive.
Send your list on WhatsApp. Pick when there is more than one option. Pay in the chat. Your order arrives on board with the rest of the crew's.
Numbers
- 130,000+
- vessel calls in Singapore every year
- 2.57 million
- seafarers on 85,148 merchant ships
- 85%
- of crew prefer WhatsApp to email, in one operator's survey
Sources: Ministry of Transport Singapore; BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026; Elcome crew connectivity survey.
FAQ
Do you run boats to the anchorage?
No. The parcel goes to the ship's agent, who puts it on a launch already booked for the call.
Who approves what comes on board?
The master. The manifest is sent at cutoff and nothing is bought until it is approved.
What can the crew order?
Everyday goods: electronics accessories, toiletries, snacks and food, clothing.
How do crew pay?
In the chat, from their own payment method or from a welfare credit funded by the ship manager.
Which ports?
Singapore first.
Sign up your fleet