Why do seafarer salary figures differ so much? One vacancy says “per ILO standard”, another says “ITF standard”, others mention IBF or PNO — and the numbers can differ wildly for the same rank. No wonder it’s confusing.
The good news: it’s not misinformation. The world’s seafarer pay system is genuinely layered — there’s a global minimum floor, union-negotiated outcomes, an international bargaining table’s agreements, and each country’s national deals. Once you see the layers, the numbers make sense.
1. ILO: The Global Minimum Floor
The ILO (International Labour Organization) is the UN body that sets the global minimum wage for seafarers. This is the floor — the lowest figure the world recognizes, not the ideal one.
The latest figures, from negotiations in Geneva in April 2025, set the monthly minimum wage for an Able Seaman (AB) at:
- US$690 per month from 1 January 2026
- US$704 per month from 1 January 2027
- US$715 per month from 1 January 2028
Up more than 6% from the previous figure (US$673). Shipping is the only industry in the world with a formally recognized global minimum wage system — running since 1958 — with the obligation set out in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.
Key note: the ILO figure is basic wage only, not total earnings. So if an offer has AB basic below US$690, that’s a red flag — below the world’s minimum floor.
2. ITF: The World’s Seafarers’ Union
The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) is the global federation of transport unions, including seafarer unions. If the ILO is the referee, the ITF is the seafarers’ defense team.
The ITF sets its own pay standards through collective bargaining agreements signed with shipowners — best known is the ITF TCC (Total Crew Cost) agreement. The ITF minimum is far higher than the ILO floor: in official statements the ITF cites an AB minimum of around US$1,806 per month — roughly 2.6 times the ILO figure.
ITF standards apply on ships bound by ITF agreements. The pay scales in those agreements are minimums — they may be negotiated higher, and must not be lowered during the contract. Wages are paid monthly in US dollars.
3. IBF: The Bargaining Table
This is the most confusing one: the IBF (International Bargaining Forum) is not a body separate from the ITF. The IBF is a negotiating forum — the table where the ITF (the seafarers’ union side) sits across from the JNG (Joint Negotiating Group, the employers: IMEC, IMMAJ of Japan, KSA of Korea, and Evergreen of Taiwan).
Simple analogy:
- ITF = the team (the seafarer union federation)
- IBF = the match result (the deal negotiated at that forum)
IBF negotiations are written into the IBF Framework Agreement — the world’s largest global collective agreement. The 2024–2027 deal signed in Berlin covers over 250,000 seafarers on 10,000+ ships, with a 6% pay rise over 2024–2025. So when a vacancy says “IBF standard”, the pay follows this forum’s negotiated scale.
4. PNO: A National-Scale Example (Greece)
PNO (Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation) is the Greek seafarers’ union federation — a national-level union, not an international body. PNO negotiates its own national collective agreements for Greek seafarers.
PNO is a perfect example of why figures differ: national deals can be higher than international standards. Greek officers working under PNO contracts reportedly earn far more than their counterparts on ITF contracts.
It can also go the other way: in 2017, a group of Ukrainian unions made a national CBA with a rating minimum of only US$1,085 — far below the ITF US$1,806 minimum — a move condemned by the ITF as undermining hard-won standards.
The lesson: each country has its own bargaining dynamics. National figures can sit above or below international ones, depending on union strength and market conditions there.
Summary: Four Layers in One Table
| Standard | Full Name | Role | Example Figure (AB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILO | International Labour Organization | Global minimum floor (under MLC 2006) | US$690/mo (2026), basic only |
| ITF | International Transport Workers’ Federation | Seafarer union federation; sets standards via TCC agreements | ±US$1,806/mo |
| IBF | International Bargaining Forum | ITF vs employers (JNG) negotiating forum; produces Framework Agreement | Follows IBF scale (+6% in 2024–2025) |
| PNO | Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation | Greek national union; example of a national CBA | Can exceed ITF (Greek officers case) |
Why Do the Numbers Differ? 4 Main Reasons
1. Different levels. ILO is the minimum floor; ITF/IBF are union bargaining outcomes; PNO is a national deal. Different numbers are natural — their functions differ.
2. Different components. The ILO US$690 is basic wage only. ITF/IBF figures usually cover a fuller package. Don’t compare “basic” with “all-in” — like comparing a no-baggage airfare with one that includes baggage.
3. Different coverage. Which pay applies to you depends on which agreement binds your ship. A ship under an IBF agreement pays the IBF scale; a ship merely MLC-compliant may pay near the ILO floor. It’s written in your employment contract (SEA) — always check which CBA it references.
4. Different markets. Ship flag, owner, trade type, and crew nationality all play a part. That’s why two ABs on two different ships can receive very different figures — both “correct” under their respective agreements.
How to Read a Salary Offer Without Being Fooled
The ITF itself gives good advice before signing a contract. The essentials:
- Make sure the contract references a specific CBA — then read the CBA and keep a copy with your contract.
- The contract must itemize separately: basic wage, overtime pay, and leave money — never accept a “total” figure without a breakdown.
- Paid leave of at least 2.5 days per calendar month (30 days per year) per ILO standards.
- Overtime pay of at least 1.25 times the normal hourly rate.
- Never sign a blank contract, and never accept one that charges joining or repatriation costs to the seafarer.
And if you’re an Indonesian seafarer: Indonesia’s seafarer union KPI (Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia) is an ITF member, so there’s an official union channel for pushing better standards.
Finally, remember the simplest benchmark: AB basic wage below US$690 per month (2026 standard) means below the world’s minimum floor. For a fuller picture of pay by rank, see InfoPelaut’s 2026 seafarer salary guide by rank.
Sources
- Marine Insight — Global Minimum Wage for Seafarers Increased in New 3-Year Agreement
- gCaptain — Under New Agreement, Global Seafarer Minimum Wage Set to Rise to $690 Per Month by 2026
- Seatrade Maritime — ILO Sets Seafarer Minimum Wage Increases for 2026–2028
- gCaptain — Four-Year Agreement Increases Wages and Workplace Protections for 250,000 Seafarers (IBF)
- MarineLink — 250,000 Seafarers Have Pay Boosted by 6% (IBF Framework Agreement)
- Seatrade Maritime — ITF Wage Agreements Can Be Applied to Greek-Flagged Vessels (PNO vs ITF)
- Ships & Ports — ITF Criticises Move to Cut Seafarers’ Wages (ITF AB minimum US$1,806)
- Splash247 — Seafarers Land 4.5% Pay Raise (JNG: IMEC, IMMAJ, KSA, Evergreen)
