# User accounts & public profiles

{% content-ref url="/pages/lDn71ZW0vxkGVRKKLndo" %}
[Create a free profile from the App](/getting-started/getting-set-up-on-the-app/create-a-free-profile-from-the-app.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/IQYzHPFaFdDx8if8QdEG" %}
[Create a free profile from the Web or PC](/getting-started/create-a-free-user-account-and-profile/create-a-free-profile-from-the-web-or-pc.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## User accounts

Every user that downloads the OffshoreSMS app or accesses a fleet or vessel on the web dashboard must first create a new user account. We sometimes call this your user profile, and it is just a way to identify you in the system.

{% hint style="success" %} <mark style="color:green;">**NOTE: Your user account is 100% controlled by you. Any information that gets added to your account or your public profile can only be added by you. You are the owner of your data.**</mark>
{% endhint %}

## Managing your profile from the Web dashboard:

1. From any page, select the **"Profile"** icon top right of screen in the header bar:
2.

```
<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/DqDZl52V1PrqYGnBf7vA" alt="" width="230"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
```

3. From here, use the side menu to:
   1. Update your profile name
   2. Request a change to your email or phone number details.
   3. Enable Privacy mode
   4. Sign Out
   5. Change your Password

{% hint style="info" %} <mark style="color:blue;">**Enabling Privacy Mode:**</mark>

<mark style="color:blue;">This will prevent your name from appearing in any searches for users in OffshoreSMS.</mark>

<mark style="color:blue;">Note that if your</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">**profile**</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">is set to</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">**PRIVATE**</mark><mark style="color:blue;">, you will</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">**not**</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">be able to get</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">**added to marine fleets or as crew on any vessels by other users.**</mark>&#x20;

<mark style="color:blue;">If you want to connect with a vessel you will need to</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">**search for that vessel**</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">and</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">**request access**</mark> <mark style="color:blue;"></mark><mark style="color:blue;">from your app.</mark>
{% endhint %}

## Managing your profile from the App:

### 1 - In the OffshoreSMS app, from the dashboard, click on My Profile:

&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/KfdUXbZbnwhx5EJLGTK4" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 2 - Edit your qualifications, emergency contacts and more:

In your account profile you can view your past inductions, manage your emergency contacts, edit your saved qualifications:

<img src="/files/z1lFbykmdVakEpNxKFuh" alt="" width="563">

***

## Your public Mariner Profile

Every user has access to a free public "Mariner Profile" feature. This is a place where you can create a publicly accessible profile about you and your experience, skills, qualifications and more.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/vNSYEQQohYOJhQNuxcIU" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %} <mark style="color:blue;">**Think of your Mariner Profile as a resume for your work on the water.**</mark>
{% endhint %}

Things you can record include:

* [ ] Your profile photo
* [ ] Your personal information (create as many customer fields as you like)
* [ ] Your personal bio
* [ ] Your skills
* [ ] Your qualifications
* [ ] Your past training institutions
* [ ] Your work experience

{% hint style="success" %}
Remember that you can turn each section on or off. By default they are all set to private.
{% endhint %}


---

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```
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```

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