A key moment for our international work

Nautilus International has taken part in several international events recently to highlight the importance of our members' work, and to ensure your voices are heard far and wide. Head of international relations Danny McGowan reports

One of these events was the International Transport Workers' Federation's (ITF) 46th Congress in Marrakech 2024. It is essential in our global industry, with more and more companies operating in diverse supply chains, that we are able to help form policy and coordinate with unions and workers from multiple transport modes.

In addition to the ITF Congress, the Nautilus Federation held its annual general meeting in October 2024.

The Nautilus Federation is a group of 22 like-minded unions from around the world with members in shipping and inland waterways transport. The unions have come together to improve and expand the services they offer to their members, and to support the development and implementation of ITF policies, and collaborate on other matters relevant to our respective members.

Alongside developing the Federation's strategic plan for 2025 and 2026, we worked on several areas where collaboration on criminalisation, recruitment and retention will be important.

I was also proud to represent Nautilus at the 2024 World Maritime Day Parallel
Event, where I took part in a panel discussion on 'The human element in ensuring the preparedness of seafarers to navigate through an evolving landscape of maritime challenges'. I was joined by Mayte Medina, chair of the International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee, and Spanish shipowner and seafarer representatives.

This event was a great opportunity to present the Nautilus Federation's report Mapping Our Maritime Future, ensuring that IMO delegations and other stakeholders are aware of the findings when discussing the future of our industry, particularly in relation to seafarers' issues and the human element.

Both days of the event can be viewed on the IMO's YouTube channel, with my panel starting at 00:32:00.

Together with colleagues from across Nautilus’s branches, and from the Nautilus Federation, we are ensuring that maritime professionals are being considered at every level.

If you have any questions about the work that we are undertaking on your
behalf, please get in touch with me via dmcgowan@nautilusint.org.