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Seafarer Index

Able Seafarer Deck (AB)

Able Seafarer Deck — experienced rating, watchkeeper, lookout, helmsman, rigger, general deck hand.

Route
AB Deck certificate (STCW II/5). Requires 18 months' sea service post-OS + BST.
Watches
Rotating 4-on-8-off with the OOW.
Progression
OS → AB → Bosun
Discussion
Forum · deck

Published ranges

VesselRegionLowMedianHighYearSource
ContainerITF TCC$1,858$2,041$2,2502025ITF Total Crew Cost (TCC) scale
BulkerITF TCC$1,800$1,990$2,2002025ITF TCC scale
Suezmax tankerGlobal$2,650$3,100$3,5502025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
Aframax tankerGlobal$2,450$2,900$3,3502025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
LR2 product tankerGlobal$2,400$2,800$3,2002025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
MR product tanker (alt)Global$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
Chemical tanker IMO IGlobal$2,500$2,950$3,4002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Bitumen tankerGlobal$2,150$2,500$2,9002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Asphalt tankerGlobal$2,050$2,400$2,7502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
LNG carrier (membrane Q-Flex)Global$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
LNG carrier (DFDE/MEGI)Global$3,050$3,600$4,1502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
LNG carrier (Q-Max)Global$3,250$3,800$4,3502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
Ethane carrierGlobal$2,900$3,400$3,9002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier)Global$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Ammonia carrierGlobal$2,800$3,300$3,8002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Bulk carrier (Newcastlemax)Global$2,200$2,600$3,0002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk)
VLOC (Valemax)Global$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk)
Bulk carrier (Kamsarmax)Global$2,150$2,500$2,9002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Bulk carrier (Ultramax)Global$2,050$2,400$2,7502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Container (Neo-Panamax)Global$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container)
Container (12,000–15,000 TEU)Global$2,400$2,800$3,2002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container)
Container (24,000 TEU ULCV)Global$2,550$3,000$3,4502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Heavy lift project carrierGlobal$2,200$2,600$3,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream specialised)
Cement carrierGlobal$1,950$2,300$2,6502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Wood chip carrierGlobal$1,850$2,200$2,5502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Live animal carrierGlobal$1,800$2,100$2,4002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Reefer (refrigerated cargo)Global$1,950$2,300$2,6502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
PCTC (large)Global$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
OSV — PSV (large)North Sea$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
OSV — AHTS (deepwater)North Sea / West Africa$2,700$3,200$3,7002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
FPSOGlobal$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
DrillshipGlobal$3,050$3,600$4,1502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Semi-submersible MODUGlobal$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Jack-up rigMiddle East$2,700$3,200$3,7002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
MPSV / DSVGlobal$2,800$3,300$3,8002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Cable layerGlobal$2,700$3,200$3,7002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Wind farm SOVNorthern Europe$2,400$2,800$3,2002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind)
Wind farm CTVNorthern Europe$1,450$1,700$1,9502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind)
Harbour ASD tugEurope$1,450$1,700$1,9502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Escort tugNorth Sea$1,600$1,900$2,2002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Ocean-going tugGlobal$1,950$2,300$2,6502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Salvage tug (specialist)Global$2,400$2,800$3,2002025Industry wage surveys (Salvage Industry)
Cruise ship (luxury, Silversea/Seabourn)Global$2,900$3,400$3,9002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise)
Expedition cruise (polar)Global$2,700$3,200$3,7002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise)
Riverboat cruise (Europe)Europe (Rhine/Danube)$1,450$1,700$1,9502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Ferry / RoPax (Baltic)Baltic$1,600$1,900$2,2002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Ferry / RoPax (Mediterranean)Mediterranean$1,700$2,000$2,3002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Yacht (50–80 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$2,200$2,600$3,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Yacht (80–120 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$3,050$3,600$4,1502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Yacht (>120 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$4,100$4,800$5,5002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Inland barge tow (Mississippi)USA inland$1,950$2,300$2,6502025USCG-licensed inland wage survey
Inland push-tow (Rhine)Rhine$1,300$1,500$1,7002025Industry wage surveys (CCNR)
Coaster (≤ 3000 GT)Europe / domestic$1,200$1,400$1,6002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
AllITF TCC$1,858$1,956$2,0542025ITF Total Crew Cost Standard 2025
AllITF Uniform TCC$1,858$1,956$2,0542025ITF Total Crew Cost Standard 2025
AllIBF Standard Framework$1,800$1,950$2,1002025BIMCO IBF Framework (TCC tariff)
Coastal tankerUSA Jones Act$5,850$6,500$7,1502025Seafarers International Union CBA
TankerIndia NMB$1,300$1,450$1,6002025National Maritime Board India CBA
InternationalPhilippines POEA SEC$1,350$1,500$1,6502025POEA Standard Employment Contract
ContainerSingapore-flag$1,700$1,900$2,1002025SOS (Singapore Organisation of Seamen) CBA

Wages are a floor, not a ceiling. Union CBAs, tanker/LNG/cruise differentials, and seniority-based bonuses routinely push above these numbers. Verify with ITF or your union before signing.

See the annual Seafarer salary benchmark 2026 for cross-rank synthesis and the career maps for trajectory analysis.