Who is insured in conformance with the Seafarer’s Pensions Act?

Under the Seafarers’ Pensions Act (MEL), an employee is insured if they work in accordance with maritime labour legislation:

  • On a Finnish merchant vessel used in foreign traffic
  • On a Finnish rescue or fishing vessel operating at sea for the purpose of making a profit
  • On a Finnish icebreaker other than a harbour icebreaker
  • On a Finnish cargo vessel, towboat or pusher craft operating mainly in domestic sea traffic and entered in the list of merchant vessels
  • On a Finnish merchant vessel operating in foreign traffic and leased mainly without a crew to a foreign operator, if the employee is under contract to the ship owner or to an employer hired by the ship owner
  • On a foreign merchant vessel leased by a Finnish ship owner mainly without a crew, if the employee is under contract to the ship owner or to an employer hired by the ship owner
  • On a vessel entered in the list of merchant vessels, the Seafarers’ Pensions Act applies to citizens of EU/EEA countries and to citizens of third countries living in EU/EEA countries
  • On icebreakers, the Seafarers’ Pensions Act applies to the crew and officers. Officers were brought within the scope of MEL on 1 January 2010.

Age limits for the insurance obligation

The obligation to insure begins when the employee turns 17. Pension insurance contributions are no longer payable once the employee reaches the applicable upper age limit, as follows:

  • year of birth 1957 or earlier: at the age of 68
  • year of birth 1958–1961: at the age of 69
  • year of birth 1962–1964: at the age of 70
  • year of birth 1965 or later: the age limit will be linked to life expectancy

Who is insured under another earnings-related pension act?

An employee who works on a ship as a musician, actor, dancer or other performing artist and whose employment contract is intended to last less than one year is not insured under the Seafarers’ Pensions Act but under the Employees Pensions Act (TyEL).

A person working as an independent entrepreneur must take out insurance under the Self-Employed Persons’ Pensions Act (YEL) if they meet its requirements.

An employee working on a vessel operating in domestic traffic is insured under the Employees Pensions Act (TyEL). If the employee works under the same contract in domestic and foreign traffic, they are insured under either MEL or TyEL, depending on which Act corresponds better to their principal work. When pension security is arranged, the employment contract is not divided between different pension acts.

If it is unclear whether a certain person or persons working on a certain vessel should be insured under the Seafarers’ Pensions Act or some other Act, the matter is decided by the Board of the Seafarers’ Pension Fund.