Danish navy struggles with severe staff shortages on key warships

A confidential internal document reveals the Danish navy is facing a “highly concerning” personnel crisis, with nearly one in five enlisted sailors missing from its largest warships, DR reports.

On the navy’s frigate-class vessels—critical for national defence—19 percent of enlisted positions and 16 percent of sergeant roles remain unfilled. Overall, about 15 percent of all crew positions across ranks are vacant, meaning roughly one in seven posts stands empty.

The shortages are straining daily operations, according to Mads Søndergaard, a marine specialist and union representative aboard the frigate Absalon. “Our work is under constant pressure,” he said. “We’re covering for each other far more often, and some tasks simply don’t get done. That weakens our readiness if we ever face a real crisis.”

86-hour workweeks and rising resignations
Søndergaard described a vicious cycle: understaffing forces longer hours—his own average workweek reached 86 hours in 2025—leading to burnout and further resignations. “After a year or so, you see the exhaustion in people’s eyes,” he said. “We’re pushing limits just to keep the ships running.”

Despite the shortages, missions continue, often by reallocating crew between vessels. But Søndergaard warned that sustained overwork risks operational failures. “If this were a factory, poor working conditions would show in the product. For us, the ‘product’ is national security—and that can’t afford to degrade.”

Readiness concerns
When asked if the frigates could effectively engage a threat like Russia while understaffed, Søndergaard paused for nine seconds before replying: “We’d manage, but at a cost. We’d have to borrow crew from other ships, and some would work extreme hours. We never deploy understaffed on combat missions—but then what’s left behind at home?”

The navy operates 12 ships for tasks ranging from North Atlantic patrols to global missions. Yet persistent resignations force constant crew shuffling, undermining long-term stability.

Søndergaard criticised leadership for failing to address the issue, noting that sailors’ dedication masks the severity of the crisis. “We’ll solve the task no matter what—even at our own expense,” he said. “But without better pay and conditions, this trend won’t reverse.”