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The union for maritime professionals at sea and ashore.

Nautilus International is the first truly trans-boundary trade union for maritime professionals, reflecting the global nature of the industry and representing members in the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and around the world. Nautilus members work at sea and ashore.

Sometimes we are referred to as the ‘Merchant Navy union’, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. Members include shipmasters, officers, cadets, ratings, yacht crew, VTS officers, harbourmasters, river boatmen, nautical college lecturers, maritime lawyers and even ship-based medical personnel.

A union for maritime professionals working at sea and shore. 

  • We negotiate on pay, conditions, working hours and pensions. 
  • We offer a range of legal services, advice on work-related problems and a 24/7 helpline.
  • Membership costs from £5.20 to £26.00 a month, less for cadets and trainees.
Main Trades
Transportation
Ships
Membership
Male 12,026 | Female 1,318 | Other 18 | Total 13,362
Employers represented include:

Cruise ships, container ships, car carriers, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, ferries, inland waterways, super yachts, tankers, colleges, offshore wind farms.

General secretary
Mark Dickinson
Cost of membership

Monthly membership fees in 2023 range from £26.00 for Officers, to £19.40 for marine ratings.
Shore staff members pay between £14.90 and £20.35.
Cadets, students and trainees pay only £31.80 per year.

Membership benefits

We negotiate on issues including pay, conditions, working hours and pensions. We provide members with a range of free legal services, and provide expert advice on work-related problems such as contracts, redundancy, bullying or discrimination and non-payment of wages.

Members are also entitled to free financial protection against the loss of income if their certificate of competency is cancelled, suspended or downgraded following a formal inquiry.

Help is never far away — wherever in the world you are. We operate a 24/7 global emergency helpline and regularly visit members on ships and ashore. We have offices and representatives in the London, Wallasey, Rotterdam, Basel, France, Spain and Singapore.

Address

1–2 The Shrubberies

George Lane

South Woodford

London

E18 1BD

Telephone
0151 639 8454
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