More than 70% of respondents, who were overwhelmingly officers, said that their wages had not kept up with the cost of living at home.

Seafarers believe that they are being badly hit by a falling dollar with wages not keeping pace with costs ashore, a survey into salaries and employment benefits has concluded. 

Shiptalk Recruitment, which has surveyed the opinions of some 268 serving seafarers on their benefit packages, points out that the “wages explosion” reported in response to the manning crisis was “not overwhelmingly evident” from respondents’ answers to questions regarding wage increases. 

An important aim of the survey was to gain some insight into seafarers’ own perspectives on their salaries,and whether they feel valued and adequately remunerated. 

The research confirms that “poaching” is increasing, with seafarers reporting offers from other employers, but also that there is widespread dissatisfaction with pay levels. Very large differentials are reported in pay scales, with the monthly rate for a master ranging from $2,500 to $23,450. 

More than 70% of respondents, who were overwhelmingly officers, said that their wages had not kept up with the cost of living at home, a majority suggesting that they needed wage increases ranging between 10-50% to feel properly compensated. 

A quarter of those responding claimed that they were paid roughly the same as when they began their sea careers. A master from New Zealand complained that when converted into his home currency, he was making more six years previously when sailing as second mate. An Irish master noted that “the falling dollar after seven years is crippling me”. 

While money was an important element in seafarers’ rewards, more than 71% of respondents said that there were other important factors which guided their employment choices. Work/leave ratios, company loyalty and long-term financial security were all regarded as important. 

The survey also revealed that other than accidental death insurance, only a minority of respondents received social security benefits, with less thjan a third enjoying pensions, private healthcare, disability income insurance and life insurance. 

The authors Captain Thomas Brown and Emma Brown suggest that while there has been much debate about manpower shortages forcing up salaries, the survey provides little evidence that this is widespread. 

The survey by the Tyneside recruitment consultant is the second of a series of probes into seafarers’ opinions. An earlier investigation published this year investigated issues of attraction and retention, while the latest survey into qualifications and training has attracted 500 respondents and is currently being analysed by the Shiptalk Recruitment team.