PS: I don`t think these two articles were aimed at a US-centered readership.
The monthly payment may not be what counts the most when young people are looking at whether to take up seafaring.
Pay scale for various nationalities. Dry Cargo Ships, USD/per month:
If the job is the same, why different pay rates? Aren’t we all one big happy seagoing family? Don’t we all deserve the same $ for our labor (no ‘u’) and time away from friends/family?
But I must point out that the pay scale shown for US nationals is inaccurate. If the scale is for US nationals working on foreign vessels it may be correct. I can’t say. But it would be off by a good deal if it is meant to reflect what a U.S. officer would make on a U.S. vessel.
Example: the chart lists US master pay as 8k to 17k per month. In the U.S. a well-paid limited license master makes 900-1000 per day. I can’t say about other places but where I work (CTI) a cadet makes $300/day. The chart shows an average of $30/day.
No complaints. I love this sort of data. But the U.S. data is off.
I’ve found that new hires (ratings and Jr. Officers) have a disconnect with what the jobs are and what is required. A lot of them don’t really want to be sailors, they just want to tell people that they are sailors. If it was easy work, everyone would do it.
What is also overlooked, is that every ship has a personality and not all are a good fit. If a new hire doesn’t like a ship, or the experience they are having on a particular ship, try another until you find one that “fits”.
Experience comes with experience, there are no shortcuts.
Note: The article is from 2020. Don`t know when the quoted statistics are from but probably 1-2 years earlier:
How does this “per day” work out compared to “salary”, where payment is the same for “time on/off”.
Maybe “Annual pay” would be a better way for comparison?
The best way to look at mariner wages is always to break it down to a daily basis, or daily rate.
About 2/3 of the mariners where I work get a daily rate, no OT. Easy math. 1/3 get paid a salary calculated using a target number of days they are expected to work. Somewhat complicated. In the end the way we compare the wages is to just get the annual gross and divide it by the days worked.
An officer at one company might make$300k a year, but that may be based on 365 days of work. Divide the two and actually that officer is making less than a well-paid mate on a per-day basis where I work, who works 160 days a year.
The true measure is always the annual gross divided by number of days worked.
Your company is overpaying cadets then. Federal rate is something like $47 a day now (somebody correct me with the right rate, in my head it’s still the $19/day it was when I cadet shipped).
That would explain a lot of the discrepancy. That was right before Pandemic-induced inflation set it. Between now and then the CPI has increased 26% and a good estimate of US mariner wage increases would be about the same.
The article is date 20.02.2020 so the latest statistics it is based on would likely be 2018.
In most of the world wages working schedules and other conditions of employment is set be “Collective Bargaining Agreement” between the Unions and the Shipowners Association (or eqv.) NOT with individual shipping companies.
Here is a link to the “Norwegian Maritime Officers Association”: Norsk Sjøoffisersforbund | English
PS: They also organize foreigners working on NOR or NIS registered ships.
All seafarers on Norwegian ships work a 1:1 schedule (or better)
(Offshore workers in Norwegian waters work 2 weeks on/ 4 weeks off)
AFAIK most European nationals are working 1:1 schedules.
As of 1. Jan. 2026 ALL seafarers operating in Norwegian coastal trade and on OSVs in Norwegian waters will have equal pay and conditions, regardless of their nationality, or which flag the vessel is flying:
PS: Norway doesn`t have a Maritime Cabotage Law. Many ships in coastal trade and the OSVs working in Norwegian waters are foreign flagged, with foreign crews (even Masters/Mates with Pilotage exemptions)
Here is an idea about how to alleviate crew shortage in international shipping:
PS: Yes I know the mantra; “higher wages solves all problems”.
That may work to solve the crewing problem in the US merchant fleet, but throw money at the problem doesn’t solve the undelaying problems in international shipping.
The traditional sources for crews has either been exhausted, or local conditions has improved to where seafaring is no longer attractive.
Better pay and conditions MAY attract crews from some under developed countries, but will that be enough?
To fill the higher positions onboard requires better support during schooling and training, job security in the form of permanent company employment, not ad hock assignment through crewing agents etc.
The risk from warfare, sanctions, blockades, piracy and being stuck onboard for months because of shore leave restrictions, is among the reasons why seafaring is not attractive to young people any more.
If only there were a way to retain employees! Serious question, what is the benefit of staying in one place, besides being fully vested in a retirement plan or simply familiarity?
Personally, if the equipment is good, the pay and benefits are on par with industry standard for the work performed, crews and management are adequately professional..I won’t be looking elsewhere.
You could even throw in a nice retention bonus to incentivize sticking it out long term, $500-1k per year of longevity around Christmas time would do it..
Throw in a guaranteed yearly COL raise to keep up with the economy. Seems like raises typically only arrive when the powers that be finally decide they’ve lost enough crew, sailing very short, difficulty filling spots, can’t attract new blood or are unable to meet contract needs before they dangle another carrot.
It’s quite reactionary.
Not getting a raise for 6 years during one of the highest periods of inflation ever probably has a demoralizing impact on people, I can’t blame my co-workers for not being loyal - when no loyalty or seemingly no regard for the Mariners wellbeing is evident.
This right here should be the standard. All we see where I work is a $100/year “holiday bonus” and pay has definitely not kept up with inflation even as negotiated day rates increase to account for it. Don’t get me started on travel pay on OSVs either. Most of the crews are not from the bayou anymore.
