Governance structure
Nautilus International’s members are at the heart of the Union’s governance structure. Here’s some information about how it all works.
Nautilus International Council
Our governing Council ensures Nautilus International is run according to the resolutions passed at branch conferences and General Meetings.
The Council members are serving maritime and inland waterways professionals. They serve a four-year term and meet three times a year in the UK and Netherlands. There are 32 elected members: 23 from the UK, eight from the Netherlands and one from Switzerland, plus the general secretary.
The Council delegates some of its governance work to specialist committees, which focus on implementing particular areas of Union policy. These committee members must also be elected members of the Council (except in the case of the Nautilus Welfare Fund Committee, which draws some of its members from industry and from retired members).
The Council is also the Trustee of the Nautilus Welfare Fund, a registered charity administered by the Union.
Dates of relevant Council meetings can be found in Events.
Nautilus forums
In the Nautilus International governance structure, there is provision for specialist forums of Nautilus members to advise the Council on particular areas of its work.
Trustee directors
The assets of the Union must by law be held by a trustee and, in the case of Nautilus International, this trustee is a corporate body: Nautilus Trustee Ltd. There are four trustee directors, appointed periodically by the Council. They bring a mix of specialist expertise, but are not members of the Union.
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Democracy
Nautilus International is a member-led, democratic organisation, and we offer members all sort of opportunities to shape the organisation's policies. This is how the Union works and how you can get involved.
Secretariat
The Nautilus secretariat is the collective name for the Union's paid employees, who are led by an elected general secretary. The secretariat implements Union policy and carries out administration. It is divided into several departments, each focused on a particular area of the Union's work.
Council members
The membership of the Nautilus International Council is designed to reflect the Nautilus membership base, with representatives drawn from the different member nations and from different employment backgrounds within the maritime and inland navigation sectors.
Trustee directors
In law, the assets of a trade union must be held by a trustee, and in the case of Nautilus International, this trustee is a corporate body: Nautilus Trustee Ltd.
Nautilus forums
Have you struggled to make your voice heard about specific challenges you face at work? Does your standard issue clothing fit poorly, are you concerned about safety in enclosed spaces, or are you critical of inadequate regulations?
Nautilus Welfare Fund
Nautilus has been protecting the interests of seafarers for 160 years in the UK and a priority is to support the increasing numbers of retired mariners – in particular those over 75 years old.