Vessels Flagged in other European Economic Area State

There are special rules for mariners who work on ships flagged in the States of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of European Union and European Free Trade Area countries:

Austria, France, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Denmark, Gibraltar, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Slovakia, Greece, Malta, Latvia, Hungary, Portugal, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, Romania* and Bulgaria*.

*Applies to Romania and Bulgaria from 1st January 2007.

If you work on a vessel flagged in one of the above States you be insured in the State where the vessel is flagged and pay contributions to that State.

unless:

• you have been posted to that vessel by an employer in the UK or from a vessel flying the flag of the UK – in which case you will pay Class 1 contributions in the UK.
• you are normally self-employed on a ship flying the UK flag and only temporarily work on a vessel flagged in another EEA State
• the vessel is in a port of, or within territorial waters of the UK and you are not normally employed at sea or a crewmember. In this case you are subject to the legislation of the UK.
• You are resident in the UK and paid by an employer or other person whose registered office or place of business is also in the UK in which case you will pay Class 1 contributions in the UK.