Nautilus International calls on NATO nations to strengthen merchant navies

Nautilus International has joined Nautilus Federation affiliate union leaders in voicing serious concerns over the poor condition of NATO member countries' merchant navies.

At a meeting of the NATO Transport Group on 5 November 2024, the unions called on allied nations to make substantial investments in maritime capabilities, strengthen their merchant marines, and support their maritime professionals.

Mark Dickinson, general secretary of Nautilus International and director of the Nautilus Federation, and Captain Don Marcus, president of the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (MM&P), a Nautilus Federation affiliate union, addressed the NATO Transport Group meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

They were invited following a statement issued by the Nautilus Federation at NATO's 75th Anniversary summit in Washington, D.C. in July 2024. In this statement, federation affiliates from NATO countries voiced shared concerns over how the rise of flags of convenience, such as those from Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands, has undermined national merchant marines.

Mr Dickinson said: 'Across Europe, many states are facing historic lows in seafarer numbers and national flagged merchant vessels. Diminished merchant marines and a shortage of qualified officers and ratings impair our collective and individual ability to support military logistics and secure essential supply chains for energy, food, and medical supplies during conflicts and health emergencies. This decline exposes our nations to severe risks, with potentially disastrous consequences.

'We were therefore very pleased to accept NATO's invitation to present on the crucial role of our maritime professionals to the security of NATO and to provide an update on the importance of commercial transport workforce in support of military movements.

'"Sea blindness" blights our industry, from schools unaware of career opportunities in shipping to governments that sidelined seafarers during the Covid-19 pandemic. There is widespread ignorance of the vital role of seafarers and shipping. We must work together to boost investment in and recognition of our maritime professionals.'

Capt Marcus added: 'It is critical that NATO recognises the vital role of our mariners and the mercantile marine in national resilience, security and defence. NATO's attention to this issue is welcomed especially in today's volatile geopolitical landscape with the vulnerability of supply chains most graphically illustrated during Covid.

'With rising geopolitical tensions threatening Europe, war in Ukraine, escalating violence in the Middle East, and as we witness efforts by other nations to dominate the high seas, our message is that NATO must confront the alarming decline in the numbers of qualified national merchant seafarers and national-flagged merchant vessels.'

The pair were given a warm welcome by the committee chairman who invited them to set out their concerns. National case studies of the UK and USA were used to illustrate lack of investment and the ongoing decline in the national fleet and national seafarers.

Mr Dickinson emphasised the lack of investment in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), noting that Nautilus had warned as early as 2002 about the UK's declining capacity to support military operations. He pointed out that, although the situation was concerning at the turn of the millennium – when the UK had 55,000 seafarers and 5.3% of the world fleet by gross tonnage — it has since worsened, with fewer than 5,000 UK seafarers today and a national fleet now representing less than 0.5% of the global fleet.

Capt Marcus said there are only approximately 180 US ocean-going merchant vessels which, if combined with US flag military charters, government owned and operated auxiliary vessels and US Ready Reserve vessels, means a total of 320-340 vessels at most — and 12,000 US deep sea-qualified mariners with an average age of 46.

The unions concluded their briefing by calling for continued dialogue with NATO to tackle the 'sea blindness' affecting the industry and those serving in the merchant navy.