Nautilus International

The UK Warlike Operations Area Committee (WOAC) has formally designated the Persian Gulf (PG), Straits of Hormuz (SoH) and Gulf of Oman (GOO) as a warlike area. The move comes following advice from the Joint Maritime Information Centre that the security status of the Persian Gulf is deemed critical, meaning that attacks on shipping are likely. More details on the designation coordinates and recommendations are expected soon. Nautilus members should keep an eye on our FAQs for updates.

@nautilusint our colleague Samantha Udall along with member Phil Lees, laying flowers at the rose garden on Dover Seafront, remembering the 193 lives lost on the Herald of Free Enterprise on the 39th anniversary of the Disaster, we will never forget.

We're speaking up for Nautilus members this week at the TUC Women's Conference in Bournemouth! In this picture, R-L: Rachel Lynch, Sarah Robinson and Christine McLean from Nautilus with our RMT union colleague Emma Purcell @RMTunion #TUCWomen2026 #internationalwomensday

Nautilus International has welcomed a decision by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) to designate the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters as a High-Risk Area under the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), citing escalating military tensions and growing risks to civilian seafarers.

Nautilus International calls for seafarer protections as Middle East conflict disrupts key shipping routes “Seafarers are not expendable, and they must not be treated as collateral damage in regional or international conflicts. The current situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz represents a serious escalation in risk for the men and women working at sea, many of whom are simply trying to do their jobs and return home safely. Their safety must come first, and that means clear information, robust protections, and the unequivocal right to refuse to sail into warlike or unsafe zones without fear of penalty.” Shipowners, flag states and ports states must ensure that the rights enshrined in the International Labour Organizations’ (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, are extended to all seafarers.

A new article about the campaign for pension justice by former employees of Lloyd's Register - read about what they're doing to fight back! nautilusint.org/en/news-insigh…

Members of @NautilusFed affiliate, @UCOCPTY, are calling for the Panama Canal Authority to engage with them constructively, following years of trying to reach agreement on safety, crewing and collective bargaining. We extend our support and solidarity to @UCOCPTY. @nautilusint

🔔Spreading Christmas cheer🎁 Huge thanks to Paula Jones, a Nautilus Welfare Fund healthcare assistant at Mariners' Park, for leading a toy and gift collection for children in Wallasey. Her partnership with local charity Voice of Egremont and the support of our mariner community have made this possible. 'Paula’s efforts are a perfect reflection of our values' – Siobhan Napier, Nautilus clinical lead and deputy manager at the Mariners' Park Care Home #NautilusWelfareFund #CommunitySpirit #ChristmasKindness

Read more here: nautilusint.org/en/news-insigh…

🚢 Your voice at the table! Nautilus GS Mark Dickinson met UK maritime minister Keir Mather to push for cabotage, better training, and stronger collective bargaining.

RMT National Secretary, @dazprocter at this afternoons roundtable meeting with new Maritime minister @Mather_Keir to identify opportunities for UK seafarers and discuss their concerns, alongside Mark Dickinson of @nautilusint and Sian Elliott, @The_TUC Director of organising.

Subscribe to NautilusTV on YouTube for more maritime content here: youtube.com/user/nautilusi…

Full story: nautilusint.org/en/news-insigh…

🚢🏆 Delighted to announce that NautilusTV has won 'Best Communication from a Smaller Union' at the 2025 TUC Trade Union Comms Awards! Thank you to all our members and everyone who's watched, shared and supported the channel. There's much more to come ⚓️

John's also written things down for us on our website - here's everything you need to know about the International Sail Endorsement Scheme: nautilusint.org/en/news-insigh…

Merchant Navy seafarers! Are you finishing this year wishing you could do something different with your career? We've got just the qualification for you... Nautilus member John Etheridge tells us about his passion for tall ships and sail training on our YouTube channel NautilusTV, and explains how you can follow in his footsteps through the International Sail Endorsement Scheme ⛵️⛵️⛵️ youtu.be/iD5ERgc7ftM?si…