Assistance
In this section, you can find out about the Union's legal and welfare services to members. You can also find information about some of the issues members face and suggestions on what you can do about them.
Nautilus coronavirus resources
Covid-19 information hub for seafarers. Everything you need to know about Covid-19 in one place, including our latest news and updates on how it is affecting maritime.
Nautilus 24/7
Welcome to Nautilus 24/7 - the service that helps Nautilus members in emergencies round the clock. Contact us now, wherever you are.
Legal
When trouble strikes, Nautilus is there for you – wherever you may be. The Union has an extensive range of specialist services to help members experiencing employment-related problems.
Worldwide lawyers directory
Nautilus recognises that our members work all over the world – and maritime accidents, when they happen, are unlikely to happen in the country where members live. Therefore, the Union has agreements in place with lawyers around the world to provide our members with free specialist advice in the event of an incident.
Welfare
For more than a century and a half, Nautilus has delivered specialist support to seafarers in need – serving and retired – and we work closely with other maritime organisations to ensure that this welfare help will continue well into the future.
Bullying and harassment
Research has shown that workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination remain an issue in the maritime industry.
Fair treatment and criminalisation
Accidents happen in every industry, but when they do, no other industry treats its workers like criminals. When maritime accidents occur, there is often an implication that seafarers and inland waterways personnel somehow deliberately set out to cause a collision, injury or spillage.
Fatigue
Nautilus believes that seafarer fatigue is one of the biggest issues threatening health and safety in the shipping industry.
Asbestos
The deadly dangers of asbestos have been known for many years, but the material is still being used illegally on some ships.
Piracy
Piracy is a very serious issue that poses a life-threatening risk to seafarers working in many parts of the world today. Nautilus campaigns to ensure that members can undertake their vital work in the safest possible conditions, with all the necessary protection and compensation.
Specialist tax advice
Correctly filling out tax returns can be a difficult job, particularly for seafarers who are often out of the country in which they pay tax. Support is available for members in the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland through discounted commercial and trade union federation services.
Maternity, paternity and parental rights
Due to the nature of their work – often moving between countries – seafarers can face jurisdictional barriers in accessing employment-related rights.
Career transitions
We have put together some case studies from seafarers – who share insights on what was helpful to them in transitioning to different roles during their maritime careers. We have also published podcasts and CV webinars in support of mentoring on career transitions.