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Maritim pensjonskasse

English

Service-related plan

Have you worked on Norwegian ships or mobile offshore units?
You may be entitled to an early retirement pension for seagoing employees between the ages of 60 and 67. To qualify for a pension, you must generally have at least 150 paid sea service months.

 

Payment of Contributions for Each Month at Sea

Both you and your employer contribute to the pension. These contributions form the basis of your pension entitlement. The employer’s contribution is 3.3% of your gross income. Your contribution as an employee depends on your position/salary level and the number of days you work each month. The employee’s contribution is adjusted annually in line with changes to the National Insurance basic amount (G). Your employer is responsible for deducting the correct amount from your salary and paying it in to the pension fund.

 

Requirement of 150 Sea Service Months (12.5 Years) for Pension Entitlement

You generally need at least 150 sea service months to qualify for a pension. If you have between 12 and 149 months, the following service periods can be counted towards meeting the requirement:

  • The Fishermen’s Pension Scheme
  • Public occupational pension schemes onboard ships (SPK or KLP)
  • Compulsory military service completed before 1981, provided it began within six months after pensionable service or maritime education
  • Service onboard ships from other EU/EEA countries

However, these periods do not count when calculating the amount of your pension.

 

Retirement Age

You may receive a pension from age 60 if you have earned at least 120 sea service months after turning 40. The retirement age increases by one month for every two months you fall short of 120 months after age 40. If you have no sea service after age 40, your retirement age is 65.

 

Requirement to have ended Seagoing Employment

To receive a pension before age 62, you must have ceased working at sea. You also cannot work on foreign ships. Your employment must be terminated, and you cannot receive wages, holiday pay, time-off compensation, or sick pay from the National Insurance for illness that occurred during the pensionable period. However, short-term seagoing assignments of up to three months within a 12-month period are permitted. After you turn 62, there are no restrictions—you may work at sea as much as you like without losing your pension rights.

 

Pension Calculation

Your annual pension is calculated by multiplying the number of pensionable sea service months by the applicable pension rates at the time you start drawing your pension. Different rates apply depending on whether the service was in a senior or junior position. Pension is calculated for a maximum of 360 months.

 

Lump-Sum Payment

If you do not have enough sea service months to qualify for a pension, you may still be eligible for a lump-sum payment if you have between 36 and 149 paid months. Requirements include having reached your retirement age, not receiving 100% disability benefit, work assessment allowance, or public contractual pension (AFP) from the National Insurance Scheme, and having ceased earning pensionable sea service. The lump sum equals two-thirds of an annual pension, calculated based on your earned sea service months.

 

Means-Tested Pension Supplement

You may be entitled to a pension supplement if you have earned at least three years of pensionable sea service during the last five years before retiring. To qualify, your pensionable income in addition to the pension must be less than twice the National Insurance basic amount (2G).

  • For those born in 1955–1959, the supplement is 8% of your gross pension.
  • For those born in 1960–1964, the supplement is 5% of your gross pension.

 

Suspension of Pension

Your pension is suspended at age 67, or from the time you start receiving work assessment allowance, 100% disability pension, or 100% public contractual pension (AFP) from the National Insurance Scheme.

 

Pension Between Ages 55 and 67

If the sum of your age and sea service equals 80 years or more, and you have left seagoing work, you may apply for a pension up to five years before turning 60. The pension will be reduced by 0.7% for each month you take it before turning 60. For example, if you start receiving a pension at 55, your pension will be reduced by 42%. This reduction is permanent and applies as long as you receive the pension from us. You will also not be entitled to the pension supplement if you take a reduced pension.

You cannot apply for reduced pension retroactively more than three months from the application date. To qualify, you must have at least 120 sea service months after the age of 40.

You are not allowed to take temporary assignments at sea while receiving reduced pension.

You can read the full law at lovdata.no.

You can also find more information in our brochure:

English – Pension scheme for seagoing personnel

 

FAQ

  • Service-related plan

    There are several types of coordination:

    Positive coordination means that service time from different pension schemes can be combined in order to qualify for a pension.

    If you have at least 12 months of service time in MPK, you may also include service time from:

    • The Guarantee Fund for Fishermen /Garantikassen for fiskere
    • Service on Norwegian state-owned ships
    • Service on ships from EU/EEA countries

    The service time from these sources can be added together to meet the requirement of 150 months, which entitles you to a pension. The pension is calculated based on the months you have earned in MPK. This “hjelpetid” can only be used if you in total reach at least 150 months.

     

    Public AFP (Contractual Early Retirement Pension)

    If you were born before 1963 and receive public AFP before turning 65, the pension from MPK will be reduced or stopped. When you turn 65, you will again receive your pension from MPK as usual. Any coordination is then carried out by those administering the public AFP.

    If you were born in 1963 or later, there will be no coordination between the pension from MPK and public AFP (New rules from 2025).

     

    Private Pension

    You can withdraw a private pension without it affecting the pension you receive from MPK. Note: if you withdraw your MPK pension before the age of 62, it may affect your entitlement to AFP in the private sector, and to public AFP if you were born in 1963 or later.

    We recommend that you contact your AFP provider to check whether this will have an impact.

    National Insurance pension from the National Insurance Scheme

    There is no coordination between MPK and the National Insurance pension from the National Insurance Scheme. This means that from the age of 62, you can withdraw both MPK and the National Insurance pension without any deductions.

  • You can apply through the member portal on our website. If you have earned pension rights from us, you will receive information about your rights before you turn 60. You may lose your entitlements if you do not apply. Pension payments can only be backpaid for up to three years.

  • Service related plan

    You may be entitled to a refund of pension contribusions
    If you have between 36 and 149 months of pensionable seagoing service time, you may receive a partial refund of the contributions you paid once you reach pension age.

    You are not entitled to a refund if you:

    • receive 100% disability benefits
    • receive work assessment allowance
    • receive public AFP (contractual early retirement pension) from the National Insurance Scheme at pension age Note: New rules apply for public AFP.
    • To receive a refund, you must also have stopped earning pensionable seagoing service time.

  • Only relevant for those born before 1965:

    Between the ages of 60 and 67, you may receive a pension supplement if you meet the following requirements:

    • You must have at least 36 months of pensionable seafaring service during the last 60 months before you start drawing your pension or reach pension age.
    • Only service for which both employee and employer contributions have been paid counts.
    • Your annual pensionable income must not exceed twice the National Insurance basic amount (G).
    • You will not receive the pension supplement if you take out a reduced pension before the age of 60, even if you meet the other requirements.

     

     

  • Will I receive a pension if I am or become disabled?

    For those born before 1970 with seafaring service:
    This depends on whether you are fully or partially disabled. You cannot receive a pension or a lump-sum payment at the same time as receiving work assessment allowance or 100% disability benefits. If you receive partial disability benefits, your pension payment will be reduced accordingly.

    For those born on or after January 1, 1970, or who started working at sea for the first time after January 1, 2020:
    You will not receive a pension if you are receiving 100% disability pension or work assessment allowance (AAP) from the National Insurance Scheme between the ages of 62 and 67. If you receive reduced disability pension or AAP during this period, the reduction of your pension account will be adjusted accordingly.

  • For workers at sea who commenced their seagoing service after 1968, a deferred retirement between the age of 60 and 65 applies depending on how many months have been accrued after the age of 40.

    Service time after age 40 Possible withdrawal age
    120 months 60 Years age
    108 months 60 Years and 6 months age
    96 months 61 Years age
    72 months 62 Years age
    60 months 62 Years and 6 months age
    48 months 63 Years age
    24 months 64 Years age
    0 months 65 Years age

  • For those born before 1970 with accrued service time:

    The pensionable age is 60 for those with at least 120 months of sea service (10 years) after turning 40. Before reaching age 62, it is assumed that you have ended your sea service. If you have less than 120 months of service time after age 40, your pensionable age will be deferred by one month for every two months you are short of the 120-month requirement after age 40. If you have no service time after turning 40, the pensionable age becomes 65.

    For those born on or after January 1, 1970, or who began seagoing service for the first time on or after January 1, 2020:

    You can start drawing your pension from the month you turn 62 up to and including the month you turn 70. This means you are free to choose when you want to start receiving your pension within this period.

  • No, but national service before 1981 may count towards the minimum pension requirement (150 months of seagoing service). National service must have been commenced within six months after expiry of a pensionable period or maritime training.

  • Yes, if the vessel was part of a separate agreement until 30 April 1993 and you paid contributions for the period. After 1 May 1993, you accrue pension for service on foreign vessels for a Norwegian employer if contributions were paid for that period. Yes, if after 1 May 1993 you have been a voluntary member during your service on a foreign vessel for a foreign employer.

  • You do not earn pension rights, but the time spent on a ship from another EEA country counts when determining whether the minimum requirement for pension entitlement is met (150 months for the service time based scheme or 3 years of accrual time for the income-based scheme). You must provide the documentation to us yourself so that we can assess whether this time can be included.

  • The Pension Fund covers

    • Norwegian nationals
    • foreign nationals permanently residing in Norway and registered with the National Registry
    • nationals of other EEA countries (but no earlier than from 1 January 1994)
    • third country nationals who are resident in another Nordic country (but no earlier than from 1 September 2004)

    who are employees on vessels covered by the scheme.

  • You must normally have a minimum of 150 months of seagoing service to qualify for a pension. If you have between 12 and 149 months of seagoing service, you will be able to add certain types of external seagoing service to meet the minimum requirement:

    • Seagoing service from the Norwegian Guarantee Fund for Fishermen
    • Service under another public service pension scheme (e.g. the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund) applicable to accrual of service on maritime vessels
    • National service completed before 1981 if your service commenced within six months of the expiry of pensionable service or maritime training
    • Service on other EU/EEA-country vessels according to the provisions of the Agreement on the European Economic Area

    Your external seagoing service is not included in the basis for calculation of the size of your pension.

Relevant articles

The pension fund covers

  • Norwegian citizens
  • Foreigners with permanent residence in Norway registered in the National Registry
  • Citizens from other EEA countries (from at earliest 1 January 1994)
  • Third-country nationals residing in another Nordic country (from at earliest 1 September 2004)
  • who are employees on ships covered by the social security scheme.

You normally need at least 150 months of sea service to qualify for a pension. If you have between 12 and 149 months of sea service, you can use certain types of external sea service (assistance time) to meet the minimum requirement:

  • Sea service from the Guarantee Fund for Fishermen
  • Service time in other public occupational pension schemes (e.g., the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund) that applies to accrual on ships
  • Military service completed before 1981, provided the service started within 6 months after the end of pensionable employment or maritime schooling
  • Service on ships from other EU/EEA countries according to the provisions of the EEA Agreement

However, your external sea service does not count when calculating the amount of your pension.

 

You apply in the same way as you apply for a pension.
You must apply before you turn 67 to avoid losing the right to a refund of contributions. The repayment amount is equal to 2/3 of an annual pension, calculated based on the number of pension-earning seafaring months you have accrued.

You may be entitled to a refund of pension contributions.

If you have between 36 and 149 months of pensionable seagoing service time, you may receive a partial refund of the contributions you paid once you reach pension age.

You are not entitled to a refund if you:

  • receive 100% disability benefits
  • receive work assessment allowance
  • receive public AFP (contractual early retirement pension) from the National Insurance Scheme at pension age
    Note: New rules apply for public AFP.

To receive a refund, you must also have stopped earning pensionable seagoing service time.

(Does not apply for those born on or after January 1, 1970, or who started working at sea for the first time after January 1, 2020)

For those born before 1970 with seagoing service time:
Your pension is calculated based on the number of months you have earned seagoing service time, up to a maximum of 360 months. Different rates apply for officers and non-officers, and there is a distinction between service earned before and after May 1, 1993.

The pension rates are linked to the National Insurance Scheme’s basic amount (G).

As of May 1, 2022, pensions are adjusted based on an average of wage and price growth, in line with the new adjustment rules introduced in 2022.

For those born before 1970 with seafaring service:
If you start drawing your pension between the ages of 60 and 62, you must have ended your service at sea. However, you may take on short-term assignments at sea of up to 3 months per year once your pension begins. You can earn as much as you want on land and still receive your full pension.

From age 62, you can earn unlimited income both at sea and on land while still receiving your full pension.

If you were born before 1965 and have an income lower than twice the National Insurance basic amount (G), you may be entitled to an income-tested pension supplement (all income is included in the assessment).

Only relevant for those born before 1965:

Between the ages of 60 and 67, you may receive a pension supplement if you meet the following requirements:

  • You must have at least 36 months of pensionable seafaring service during the last 60 months before you start drawing your pension or reach pension age.
  • Only service for which both employee and employer contributions have been paid counts.
  • Your annual pensionable income must not exceed twice the National Insurance basic amount (G).
  • You will not receive the pension supplement if you take out a reduced pension before the age of 60, even if you meet the other requirements.

For those born before 1970 with seafaring service:
This depends on whether you are fully or partially disabled. You cannot receive a pension or a lump-sum payment at the same time as receiving work assessment allowance or 100% disability benefits. If you receive partial disability benefits, your pension payment will be reduced accordingly.

Only relevant for those born before 1970 with seafaring service:

  • You can start drawing a reduced pension as early as age 55 if the sum of your age and pensionable seafaring service is at least 80 years.
  • The pension will be permanently reduced by 0.7% for each month you are under the age of 60 at the time of withdrawal.
  • You will not receive the pension supplement if you take out a reduced pension.
  • Reduced pension can only be paid retroactively for up to 3 months from the date you apply.
  • If you have a postponed pension age (meaning after age 60), you cannot take early retirement.

Note: Starting pension before the age of 60 means you cannot return to work at sea or earn further pension rights.

The short-term assignment rules do not apply to those receiving reduced pension — even after the age of 62. This is because reduced pension is intended for those who have had long careers at sea and who are no longer able or expected to work at sea.

Only applicable if you were born before 1970 and have accrued service time:

If you started your sea service after 1968, a deferred retirement age between 60 and 65 applies, depending on how many months you have accrued after turning 40.

 

Service time after age 40 Possible withdrawal age
120 months 60 år
108 months 60 Years and 6 months
96 months 61 Years old
72 months 62 Years old
60 months 62 Years and 6 months
48 months 63 Years old
24 months 64 Years old
0 months 65 Years old

 

For those born before 1970 with accrued service time:

The pensionable age is 60 for those with at least 120 months of sea service (10 years) after turning 40. Before reaching age 62, it is assumed that you have ended your sea service. If you have less than 120 months of service time after age 40, your pensionable age will be deferred by one month for every two months you are short of the 120-month requirement after age 40. If you have no service time after turning 40, the pensionable age becomes 65.

No, it isn’t. However, military service time before 1981 can count towards fulfilling the minimum requirement (150 months) for pension eligibility. The military service must have started within six months after the end of a pensionable period or maritime schooling.

If you work on a foreign ship for a Norwegian employer and live in Norway, the time on board counts towards your pension. It is also possible, under certain conditions, to become a voluntary member of MPK.

No. On fishing and sealing vessels over 100 gross tons, only employees in seaman positions are covered. There is a separate pension insurance scheme for fishermen, which is administered by Garantikassen for fiskere (the Guarantee Fund for Fishermen).

You do not earn pension rights, but the time spent on a ship from another EEA country counts when determining whether the minimum requirement for pension entitlement is met (150 months for the service time based scheme or 3 years of accrual time for the income-based scheme). You must provide the documentation to us yourself so that we can assess whether this time can be included.

Your pension will be paid until the month you turn 67. The payments will also stop if you are granted 100% disability benefits, work assessment allowance, or public contractual early retirement pension (AFP).

You can apply through the member portal on our website. If you have earned pension rights from us, you will receive information about your rights before you turn 60. You may lose your entitlements if you do not apply. Pension payments can only be backpaid for up to three years.

For those born before 1970 with seagoing service time:

You can take out the ordinary old-age pension before age 67 without it affecting your MPK pension. You cannot receive a pension simultaneously with Work Assessment Allowance (AAP), 100% disability pension (UFØRE), or 100% public contractual early retirement pension (AFP). If you have partial disability pension or public AFP, your payment will be reduced accordingly.

Your pension will not be reduced when you take out private AFP. However, please be aware that taking out a pension may affect your right to private AFP. If you are unsure, please contact the scheme that administers your AFP.

New regulations:

Ny offentlig AFP og pensjon fra Maritim pensjonskasse (MPK)