Qualifying period

The qualifying period is complete after 240 calendar months (20 years) of qualifying sea service.

Qualifying sea service comprises periods of compulsory insured employment in the seafaring industry or self-employment as coastal mariner/ fisherman according to the statutes of the social insurance for seafarers.

Not considered for the qualifying period are periods of voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance, periods for allocation, i.e. e.g. periods of education (also at nautical colleges), illness, unemployment and child raising) as well as periods of contribution payment due to drawing of unemployment benefits, sickness benefits, injury benefits or transitional allowance, even if they follow directly to periods of sea service.

Sea service on foreign flagged ships, which are not covered by statutory insurance according to the statutes of the insurance, is also irrelevant in respect of the qualifying period.