Final agreements on pension scheme

On 1 July 2023, the Future Pensions Act took effect. This Act requires all pension schemes to change. Also in the case of Bpf Koopvaardij Bpf Koopvaardij is the pension fund for people who work or have worked in the Dutch merchant navy. It manages pension contributions, provides pension benefits, and invests to grow its assets. The fund offers financial security after working life to seafarers and their dependents. .

Recently, the social partners, the joint representatives of employees and employers, have been busy negotiating agreements on the new pension scheme. Those agreements are now final, and are contained in the ‘transition plan’. You can view this plan as of now.

The intended launch date for the new pension scheme will be 1 January 2026. Until that time, a lot has to happen and Bpf Koopvaardij will continue preparations. As an example, Bpf Koopvaardij has to assess whether they can implement the new agreements.

The board also checks whether the agreements that have been reached are fair for all (former) participants: young, old, retired or working. An implementation plan and a communication plan will be drawn up in the coming period.

The implementation plan will describe what is needed to launch a new pension scheme later on 1 January 2026. For example, the adjustment of policies, administration and investments. And how accrued pensions and pensions already being paid out will be dealt with.

The communication plan is part of the implementation plan, and deals with communication about the new pension scheme. The communication plan details the following:

• Who is informed; going to inform;

• What will be told;

• When will be told; and

• In what way it will be done.