Fair treatment and criminalisation

The maritime industry is a global one and incidents can happen anywhere in the world. Seafarers are not supplied with information on local and international laws for the areas they are sailing in, so as to avoid falling foul of these when entering foreign territorial waters and ports.

The Nautilus report on criminalisation of the seafarer contains the results of a survey of members in 2010 and advice and guidance for members on how to deal with criminalisation and investigations into incidents.

Nautilus helped to develop the joint guidelines from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident and works to ensure that the guidelines are adopted and implemented by all countries.

Shipping is a global industry, and there is a strong likelihood you’ll be away from your country of residence if you’re involved in an incident. Therefore, Nautilus provides free access to maritime lawyers based all around the world. These lawyers are ready to help our members as soon as they are contacted, at no charge to the individual.

There is also our Nautilus 24/7 helpline, which can assist you.

Nautilus is part of the Joint Assistance and Support Network (JASON) with the other unions of the Nautilus Federation.  Under this scheme, you can obtain assistance from one of those unions if you are in trouble in a country in which one of them is situated, or in the relevant territorial waters, or on one of their national ships. Information on how JASON can assist you and how to access this service, along with a list of the relevant unions, is available on the Nautilus Federation website.

Remember, if you are involved in an incident anywhere in the world, you should always contact the Union as soon as possible, and certainly before making a statement to any investigating authorities.

Nautilus urged members to support its Fair Treatment strategic campaign by taking part in a new survey in 2019, which found almost 90% of seafarers fear criminalisation at work – a change since our 2010 survey.

Because of the international nature of seafarer criminalisation, the Union joined with the 21 unions which make up the Nautilus Federation to take action against the unfair treatment of maritime professionals. The results of the updated survey were publicised in the Nautilus Federation Fair Treatment report 2019.

Nautilus also lobbies the governments of the UK, Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as the EU, to seek to ensure that legislation affecting seafarers does not increase the risk of criminalisation. All members should contact their elected representatives to add their voice to the campaign.

Members can also ask their employers to ensure that their employees have all the information they need, relevant to the areas which they will be sailing in – something which Nautilus will support you in doing.