New collective agreement for the company Remolcadores y Barcazas de Tenerife, S.A. (Rebate, S.A.), of Bolusa. The deal, signed between the shipping company’s management and the right-leaning trade union representation of Coordinadora, sets out the socio-labour framework and the pay structure for crew assigned to tugboats operating in the docks of Santa Cruz de Tenerife port and Granadilla for the six-year period from 2026 to 2031.
The document establishes that the pay framework will apply retroactively from January 1, 2026. The pay architecture in the agreement establishes a tiered hierarchy by professional groups, where the technical responsibility of the vessel’s command creates a clear gap with the lower operational scales. The salary spread between the top of the fleet and deck personnel is handled through the so-called Guaranteed Activity Supplement, paid in 11 monthly installments to compensate for shifts worked through consecutive 24-hour watches followed by 48 hours of rest.
At the top of the pay scale are bridge-qualified staff. The category of Chief Pilot for Coastal Service or Chief Pilot receives a monthly Guaranteed Activity Supplement of €1,561.59, followed by the Coastal Pilot or Littoral Pilot, with €1,536.68 per month. In the engine room, the Senior Naval Mechanic or Senior Naval Engineer earns €1,474.11 monthly under this concept, while the First-Class Naval Mechanic receives €1,449.08. At the base of the range are Deck and Engine Deckhands, whose Guaranteed Activity Supplement is set at €1,249.09 per month, which amounts to a fixed monthly difference of €312.50 between the vessel’s command and auxiliary staff.
The system of supplements for availability and being on call outside shifts further emphasizes the pay scale among the different Tenerife categories. The agreement stipulates an annual compensation for digital availability of €1,430, prorated for the figures of Chief Pilot for Coastal Service and Senior Naval Mechanic. This figure contrasts with the amount allocated to the Deck and Engine Deckhand, set at €674.01 annually—an amount that represents less than half of the remuneration assigned to the vessel’s chief positions.
Similar pay differences are also reflected in the annual rest period complement. In the payroll for the month of holidays, the Chief Pilot for Coastal Service or Chief Pilot receives a specific Holiday Supplement of €832.54. For its part, the Senior Naval Mechanic receives €747.94, with the Holiday Supplement dropping to €530.32 in the case of the Deck and Engine Deckhand.
Compensation linked to extraordinary operations outside the port area equalizes the technical command roles but keeps the gap with the seafaring crew. For sea departures longer than 12 hours, the pilots receive an extra €299.33 for every 24 hours, an amount equivalent to the €299.38 set for naval mechanics. The crew categories receive €258.99 per day for the same concept. For departures shorter than 12 hours, the hourly rate is set at €19.38 for qualified personnel and €16.70 for subordinate staff.
The payroll structure is completed with linear payments for the entire workforce, highlighting the meal assistance of €197.05 per month for each active worker. The text also confirms that crew members waive settlements for rights to maritime aid, rescue or maritime towage, as those are included in the base salary and the on-board supplement. For the period 2027 to 2031, the wage mass will be reviewed annually using the higher value between the national or Canary Islands CPI recorded in the previous 12 months, adding an additional 0.5% annual increase.
The article Salary range for Puertos de Tenerife tugboats: up to €1,500 in overtime supplement per watch was first published on canarymaritime.com.
