Employees of wellboat giant Sølvtrans had taken the company to court over missing pension payments.
A court in Norway has acquitted the Ålesund-based shipping company, Sølvtrans, following a lawsuit filed by its employees over pension payments.
The employees, supported by the Norwegian Maritime Officers’ Association and the Norwegian Seamen’s Association, claimed they were underpaid in pensions since 2006, alleging that fixed salary supplements were not included in the pension calculations.
At the heart of the issue is the alleged discrepancy in pension calculations. Seafarers argued that while the Shipping Association’s pension scheme accounts for fixed supplements, Sølvtrans has neglected them, resulting in significant differences in final payouts.
Sølvtrans argued that their pension scheme complied with the 2006 Act on compulsory occupational pensions, which sets the minimum requirements.
The court ruled unanimously in favor of Sølvtrans, dismissing the class action and ordering the seamen’s organizations to pay part of the legal costs incurred by the shipping company.
The court approved NOK 974,192 ($85,000) in legal costs, less than the NOK 1.5 million ($130,000) requested by Sølvtrans for 390.75 hours of legal work.
From 2003, when Sølvtrans operated just four to five boats, the company has expanded its fleet to more than 40 vessels, and 700 staff.
