Seafarers' Wages Amendment Regulations 2026 Increases Rates

UK New Legislation

Published April 1st, 2026

Detected March 11th, 2026

Summary

The UK Secretary of State has issued the Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2026, amending the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024. These amendments increase the hourly rates for the national minimum wage equivalent for seafarers, with the new rates coming into effect on April 1, 2026.

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What changed

The Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2026, made on March 4, 2026, and effective April 1, 2026, amend the existing Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024. Specifically, regulation 14(1) of the 2024 Regulations is updated to increase several hourly wage thresholds. The primary rate increases from £12.21 to £12.71, with other rates also seeing corresponding increases.

Employers of seafarers operating within the UK will need to ensure their wage calculations comply with these new rates effective April 1, 2026. While no specific compliance deadline is listed beyond the effective date, failure to adhere to the updated minimum wage equivalent rates could result in penalties related to employment law violations. The Department for Transport has indicated that no significant impact on businesses is foreseen, as the changes reflect anticipated annual increases.

What to do next

Update seafarer wage calculations to reflect the new hourly rates effective April 1, 2026.
Review payroll systems and employment contracts to ensure compliance with the amended Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 244

MERCHANT SHIPPING

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

HARBOURS, DOCKS, PIERS AND FERRIES

The Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Made

4th March 2026

Laid before Parliament

10th March 2026

Coming into force

1st April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 4(6) of the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023(1).

Citation, commencement and extent

—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2026.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Amendments to the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024

—(1) The Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1) of regulation 14 (the national minimum wage equivalent)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a), for “£12.21” substitute “£12.71”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b), for “£10.00” substitute “£10.85”;

(d) in sub-paragraph (d), for “£7.55” substitute “£8.00”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Keir Mather

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Transport

4th March 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend regulation 14(1) of the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 (the “ 2024 Regulations ”) to increase the hourly rates specified for the purposes of the national minimum wage equivalent. These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2026.

A full impact assessment has not been produced in respect of these Regulations. A full impact assessment of the effect that the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and associated regulations would have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector was undertaken prior to the passing of the Act. That impact assessment was updated prior to the making of the 2024 Regulations and is available from the Department for Transport, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR and is published alongside those Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk. The impact assessment took account of an annual increase to the national minimum wage equivalent rates. No significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen as a result of these Regulations. The Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk.

(1) 2023 c. 8.

(2) S.I. 2024/1015, amended by S.I. 2025/289.