Nautilus launches new animation highlighting the importance of seafarers

Nautilus has released the second in a series of animations, highlighting the importance of the British shipping industry and seafarers.

The animation forms part of the Union's Jobs, Skills and the Future campaign which calls on the UK government and maritime industry to deliver decent work and training opportunities for British seafarers now before our seafaring skills and fleet are lost forever.

This new animation has been produced to raise public and political awareness of the vital economic and strategic role of shipping ahead of the 8 June UK general election.

To protect the jobs and livelihoods of the country's 23,000 seafarers, the Union is calling on all parties to commit to support British shipping by putting maritime policies at the heart of their campaigns. This support should include investment in the SMART Plus seafarer training package jointly proposed by Nautilus and the UK Chamber of Shipping.

Nautilus' general secretary Mark Dickinson commented: 'We hope this animation will raise awareness of just how much we rely on the nation's maritime industry at such a critical time for the UK. To ensure the nation's transport and economic security in a post Brexit world, we must protect and maintain a sustainable and well-funded maritime industry which puts jobs for British citizens at its core.

'With the country relying on seafarers to bring us 95 per cent of our goods, the Union is urging all political parties to take our reliance on shipping more seriously. We will witness a further decline of the nation's essential maritime skills and an even greater dependence on other countries in a world of increasing political turbulence if politicians do not have an ambitious strategy for the UK maritime sector.'

With the country relying on seafarers to bring us 95 per cent of our goods, the Union is urging all political parties to take our reliance on shipping more seriously