Seamen’s Provident Fund (SPFO) — Complete Guide for Indian Seafarers 2026

Every Indian seafarer on a covered contract has money accumulating in the Seamen’s Provident Fund. Most don’t know how much they have. Many don’t know they can check it. Some don’t even know their company was supposed to contribute.

This guide fixes all of that.

What Is the Seamen’s Provident Fund (SPFO)?

The Seamen’s Provident Fund Organisation (SPFO) is a government statutory body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It administers the Seamen’s Provident Fund — a dedicated retirement savings scheme for Indian seafarers under the Seamen’s Provident Fund Act, 1966.

It functions similarly to EPFO (the general Employee Provident Fund) but exclusively for seafarers.

Key numbers:

Employee contribution: 12% of basic wages
Employer (shipping company) contribution: 12% of basic wages
Current interest rate: Declared annually (historically 8–8.5% — check SPFO for current rate)
Fund type: Defined contribution, with government-declared interest

Who Is Covered Under SPFO?

You are covered if:

You are an Indian seafarer
Your RPSL company or shipping employer is registered with SPFO
Your employment contract covers you under the Seamen’s PF Act

Most seafarers on major RPSL company contracts are covered. However, coverage varies by company and contract type. Check your payslip — “SPF deduction” should appear.

If no SPF is being deducted, either your contract excludes you or your employer is non-compliant. Both are worth investigating.

How to Check Your SPFO Balance

Step 1: Visit the SPFO official website or contact SPFO directly.

Contact Details:

SPFO Office: Seafarers Welfare Fund Society Building, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001
Phone: Verify current number on dgma.gov.in / Ministry of Ports website
Email: Contact through official SPFO portal

Step 2: Provide your:

Full name as per CDC
INDOS number
CDC number
Date of birth

Your balance statement will include employee contributions, employer contributions, and accumulated interest.

Online access: SPFO’s digital infrastructure has been developing. Check if online balance viewing is available via their current portal or through e-Samudra on dgma.gov.in.

When Can You Withdraw SPFO?

Full withdrawal (final settlement) conditions:

You have permanently ceased working as a seafarer
You reach retirement age (58–60 — verify current age with SPFO)
Permanent total disability preventing further sea service

Partial withdrawal conditions:

Marriage (your own)
Education of children
Medical treatment (serious illness of you or dependent family member)
House construction or purchase
Specific minimums of service apply for each category

After 5 years of continuous contribution: General withdrawal eligibility improves. Specific rules apply — verify with SPFO at the time of claiming.

How to Claim SPFO on Retirement or Resignation from Sea

Submit a SPFO withdrawal application to SPFO Mumbai office
Required documents: Application form (SPFO Form 10C or 19, verify current form numbers), CDC, INDOS certificate, bank account details (NRE or regular savings), identity proof, photographs
Processing time: Typically 30–90 days after document submission

What If Your Company Did Not Contribute to SPFO?

If you discover your company was not depositing your SPF contributions:

This is a statutory violation — the company is legally obligated to contribute
File a complaint with SPFO Mumbai and with DGMA (DGS Helpline: 9004048406)
SPFO can compel the company to deposit arrears with penal interest
Document your payslips showing the deduction was made but not deposited

Your contributions (12%) that were deducted from your wages belong to you — the employer’s non-remittance to SPFO is the employer’s legal liability.

SPFO vs. Regular EPF (EPFO)

Feature	SPFO	EPFO
Who it covers	Indian seafarers	General employees
Governing law	Seamen’s PF Act 1966	EPF Act 1952
Contribution rate	12% + 12% (employee + employer)	12% + 12%
Administered by	SPFO Mumbai	EPFO regional offices
UAN equivalent	SPF account number	UAN

You cannot transfer SPFO balance to EPFO. They are separate funds.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My company never mentioned SPFO to me. Are they obligated to contribute?
A: Yes, if you are covered under the Seamen’s PF Act. Check your contract and payslips. If you have been deducted 12% and your employer has not deposited it, file a complaint.

Q: Can I nominate a beneficiary for my SPFO balance?
A: Yes. Submit a nomination form to SPFO at time of first joining or any time thereafter. This ensures your balance goes to your chosen nominee if you are no longer alive.

Q: Can I take a loan against my SPFO balance?
A: SPFO has provisions for advances (partial withdrawals) for specific purposes. A loan against SPF balance is different from EPF loans — verify current SPFO rules on this.

Q: I sailed for 20 years but have no SPF balance. What happened?
A: Possible reasons: Your employers were not registered with SPFO, or contributions were deducted but not deposited. Investigate by contacting SPFO with your CDC and employment history. Arrears can be recovered.

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