Agreement on seafarer wages: Wages for seafarers to increase - German Seafarers Secure 5.8% Wage Hike in Landmark 2026 Deal
Agreement on seafarer wages: Wages for seafarers to increase in January 2026
Agreement on seafarer wages: Wages for seafarers to increase in January 2026
Agreement on seafarer wages: Wages for seafarers to increase in January 2026
2025-12-04T18:08:05+00:00
seafarers, united services union, maritime industry, wage agreement, wage agreement for, german maritime industry, wages for seafarers to increase in January 2026, industry, finance, business
Thousands of German seafarers will see their wages rise from January 1, 2026. The increase follows a new collective bargaining agreement between the Ver.di services union and the German Shipownersâ Association (VDR). Negotiators have called the deal a step forward, though not all union goals were fully met.
The agreement covers ship officers, including captains, chief engineers, and deck and engine officers. Their pay will go up by 3.0% from January 1, 2026, with an additional 2.8% rise due in early 2027. The new terms form part of the updated maritime wage agreement (HTV-See), which will remain in place for 30 months.
Ver.diâs lead negotiator, AndrĂŠ Scheer, described the result as 'very positive'. He highlighted that the deal ensures a real-wage increase for seafarers. However, the union acknowledged that fully offsetting past real-wage losses was not possible in this round.
The overall collective agreement for German shipping extends over four years. It applies to seafarers working under German contracts, providing a structured pay rise over the coming years.
The wage increases will take effect in two stages, beginning in January 2026. The agreement guarantees higher earnings for officers and other covered crew members. The deal reflects ongoing efforts to improve conditions in the maritime sector.
