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Nautilus Equality and Diversity Forum highlights unfair maritime career burdens for women and trainees
10 February 2025
Maternity and pregnancy rights, cadet training, and maritime recruitment and retention were among a range of maritime career challenges debated at the Union's most recent Equality and Diversity Forum. Deborah McPherson reports
The 12th meeting of the Forum, held online on Thursday 14 November 2024, included a plenary session which reported on key topics discussed at the 'breakout' network meetings for women and young maritime professional members.
Contemporary maternity issues
Nautilus women's lead Rachel Lynch said the women's network meeting revolved around the need to pursue increased equality for female seafarers in relation to contemporary concerns surrounding maternity rights; and amid ongoing reports that some companies are requiring women seafarers to undertake pregnancy tests prior to joining their vessels.
The thorny issue of employment rights in relation to pregnancy testing requests was previously debated by the Union and employers at a 2019 International Labour Organization (ILO) meeting. The ILO sectoral meeting on the recruitment and retention of seafarers and the promotion of opportunities for women seafarers, held on 25 February 2019, concluded that mandatory pregnancy testing should 'not be used to discriminate against women' as this would 'violate' two key ILO conventions : the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) and the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183), and that shipowners should ensure that pregnancy testing for women seafarers is in line with Convention No. 111. However, the sectoral meeting acknowledged that 'maternity protection falls within the shipowner's duty of care and their legitimate concern for seafarers' safety', and that the matter required further 'research and deliberation'.
Your maternity/paternity rights
The ILO/IMO have provided guidelines on the medical examinations of seafarers in respect of pregnancy, and Nautilus also has its recently updated maternity and paternity guidance for seafarer members.
Positive potential
The Nautilus Forum also heard positive examples of diversity and inclusivity practices in maritime, such as efforts to create more positive and safer environments for women seafarers.
Ms Lynch said members were keen to explore the potential for the Union's women's network to engage with other similar networks in the industry – including at colleges – to encourage greater participation in Nautilus's diversity work, and to raise awareness of work-life balance issues common to maritime families where both parents work at sea.
Cadet care
Nautilus International director of organising Martyn Gray outlined the work the Union undertakes to raise training issues among the wider maritime community on behalf of young maritime professionals, including cadets, such as through the foundation of the Cadet Welfare Group alongside the Merchant Navy Training Board and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency.
The Union is continuing to develop and pursue legislation expected to also benefit young maritime professionals such as the introduction of a mandatory Seafarers' Charter, and to push for greater investment on training and retention from the UK government.
The Nautilus 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan addresses recruitment and retention as well as the lack of information available to cadets before going to sea, and the lack of available sea time.
Participate in the debate
Nautilus head of international relations Danny McGowan highlighted the importance of visible leadership in equality work. Union members who are not from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to take part in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives in order that they can be empowered to support such matters with confidence.
Members are encouraged to join the next Equality and Diversity Forum on 10 April 2025.
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