Nautilus International and MSSC sign historic agreement to secure Slater Fund scholarships in perpetuity

Nautilus International and the Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC) have signed a historic agreement to preserve and continue the work of the John William Slater Memorial Fund.

The Slater Fund is a charity established in memory of John Slater, former general secretary of the Nautilus predecessor union MNAOA. In 1985, the MNAOA merged with the REOU and MMSA to form NUMAST which, in 2009 merged with the Dutch seafarers' union FWZ to form Nautilus.

Initially set up to support ratings studying for their first certificate of competency, Slater Fund scholarships now also help electro-technical officers and crew on superyachts, workboats, tugs and fishing vessels to gain Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certificates of competency as watchkeeping officers. Currently it offers funding up to £18,500 towards obtaining a CoC, plus a completion bonus of £1,500.

This scholarship money, which has helped thousands of seafarers over the decades, is drawn from an annual grant from Nautilus International, and funding from the Maritime Educational Foundation (MEF) which ultimately comes from tonnage tax PILOT payments. However, the charity has faced many headwinds in past years including declining opportunities for ratings employment.

To ensure that the charity can continue to support maritime education in perpetuity, the trustees of the Slater Fund have been exploring the option of establishing a ‘restricted fund’ managed by the MSSC. This will allow more of Fund’s resources to be dedicated to its objectives, reduce administration and thus costs. The Council of Nautilus International and the Slater Fund trustees approved this scheme, and an agreement was signed to establish the restricted fund on 1 October 2024.

David Slater, chair of trustees of the JW Slater Memorial Fund said: '50 years ago, my father, MNAOA general secretary John Slater passed away. In his memory, the MNAOA established the Slater Fund. The charity has spent five decades helping ratings to secure their Officer of the Watch certificate. Ours is the only charity dedicated to this mission, and over 600 ratings and other uncertificated seafarers have gained a CoC because of its support.

'We have awarded over £11m in grants to beneficiaries. We have achieved so much over a long period, and have many people to thank for their support for our work – not least the MSSC, which has assisted us over the years with the management of the fund and supporting beneficiaries. They have consistently offered a great service to our beneficiaries.

'We must also thank Nautilus and the Maritime Educational Foundation for their continued support towards our charitable objectives.

'Now is the right time to build on our strong partnership with the Marine Society, to address the headwinds we face, reduce our costs and overheads to maximise support for our beneficiaries. The establishment of a restricted fund, under the auspices of the Marine Society, will achieve this. It will establish in perpetuity the Nautilus International Slater Fund for the support of ratings and non-certificated officers seeking to achieve a Certificate of Competency in the Merchant Navy.'

John Slater, a member of the Slater Fund management committee, added: 'I have been privileged and honoured to be part of the Slater Fund, which has made such a huge difference to the careers of so many seafarers. My father would have been amazed and delighted to know what his legacy has provided – and will continue to provide under the excellent guidance, expertise, and oversight of the MSSC.'

Darrell Bate, Marine Society's Director of Maritime Training and Development said: 'It is an honour to be entrusted with this illustrious fund and to take it forward for the benefit of seafarers progressing their careers in the British merchant fleet. We are grateful to Nautilus International and the Slater Fund trustees for their longstanding collaboration with the Marine Society and Sea Cadets as we begin a new chapter for this vital fund.'