Home Sea Royal Fleet Auxiliary crews accept new pay deal

RFA_Fort_Victoria_resupplying_HMS_Queen_Elizabeth — Pictured is HMS Queen Elizabeth while deployed with the UK Carrier Strike Group, completing a Replenishment At Sea (RAS) transfer of live munitions from solid support ship RFA Fort Victoria on Tuesday 17 August 2021...This was the first RAS of live munitions to a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier, with 14,540kg of munitions transferred including 16 PAVEWAY IV for the F-35B jets and 41,785kg of mixed food and maintenance stores for the ship...HMS Queen Elizabeth is the deployed flag ship for UK Carrier Strike Group 21(CSG21). ..CSG21 saw the ship along with the Strike Group work with over 40 countries from around the world. The Strike Group operated and exercised with other Countries Navies and Air Forces during the 7-month deployment. ..The Strike Group includes ships from the United States Navy, The Dutch Navy, and Marines from the US Marine Corps. As well as UK Frigates, Destroyers two RFA supply ships and air assets from 617 Sqn, 820 NAS, 815 NAS and 845 NAS. This is the largest deployment of Fifth Generation

Royal Fleet Auxiliary crews accept new pay deal

July 28, 2026

Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel who support Royal Navy operations around the world are to receive an above-inflationary pay rise and improved conditions after seafarers and maritime trade unions accepted a new pay offer, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

The agreement includes a 4.5% pay rise backdated to 1 April 2025 and a further 3.6% rise from 1 April 2026. It also brings changes to leave arrangements that will allow RFA personnel to earn more time off for periods spent at sea, a one-off leave buy-back arrangement and a £250 one-off payment.

Both the RMT and Nautilus unions confirmed that RFA seafarers had accepted the offer. The two unions said they would continue to work with the RFA on further modernisation, including exploring ways to increase leave entitlements and developing pay arrangements that better reflect the unique nature of RFA service.

The Minister for Veterans and People, Calvin Bailey MBE MP, marked the deal during a visit to Portland Port on 28 July, where he met crews aboard RFA Tidespring and RFA Mounts Bay, thanked personnel for their service, discussed workforce challenges and heard how the service is preparing for the future, including crewing the Fleet Solid Support Ships.

Speaking from Portland, Bailey said:

“The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a vital part of the Royal Navy and contributes directly to the UK’s national security through their crucial work across the world.

“This agreement recognises the unique contribution that RFA members make to the Royal Navy and provides a strong foundation for the future as the organisation prepares to crew the next generation of support ships.

“We thank the Maritime Trade Unions for their support in reaching a resolution.”

The RFA is a civilian-crewed fleet owned by the Ministry of Defence that provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy. Its personnel deliver fuel, supplies, ammunition and other essential support to UK and allied vessels around the world, enabling Royal Navy ships to remain deployed and conduct operations globally.

The two vessels visited by the minister illustrate that role as RFA Tidespring, a Tide-class tanker, supports the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group and recently returned from a deployment to the High North, having sailed with HMS Prince of Wales to the Indo-Pacific last year. RFA Mounts Bay supports amphibious operations and exercises, ensuring embarked Royal Marines and their supplies can be delivered ashore wherever they are needed, and is preparing for operations later this year.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the agreement forms part of a wider programme to improve recruitment, retention and workforce conditions across Defence.

The department said the deal is expected to support recruitment and retention across the RFA, helping ensure it is well placed to meet future operational demands, including crewing the Fleet Solid Support Ships that will support the Carrier Strike Group and global operations.