Government must secure the future of maritime to meet defence ambitions, warns Nautilus

Nautilus International has welcomed the UK government's commitment to strengthening Britain's defence capabilities outlined in its Strategic Defence Review, but warns that these ambitious plans will fail without securing the long-term viability of the Merchant Navy and investing fully in the nation's vital maritime workforce.

The union, which represents maritime professionals across the UK, argues that the Review's focus on expanding submarine fleets and enhancing warfighting readiness cannot succeed without the critical support vessels and skilled seafarers who form the backbone of naval operations. Further, it cannot function without secure supply lines for food, fuel and vital goods on which national prosperity depends. 

'The government talks about making Britain "secure at home, strong abroad", but you cannot build a credible defence and industrial capability on paper alone,' Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson said.

'The merchant navy and its maritime professionals provides the vital lifeline that keeps our nation fed and fuelled and that supports defence operations – from fuel and supplies to medical support and heavy lift capability. Without proper investment in shipping increasing domestic maritime employment opportunities the seafarers who operate them, the government's defence ambitions will remain hollow promises.'

Merchant shipping includes the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) which currently operates a fleet of 13 vessels supporting Royal Navy and wider defence operations worldwide but faces significant challenges including an aging fleet and recruitment difficulties. Several RFA vessels are approaching the end of their operational lives, whilst the service struggles to attract and retain qualified officers and ratings. 

The critical importance of this maritime infrastructure extends beyond the RFA itself to essential supply chains such as Foreland Shipping and James Fisher, which provide vital RORO freight and petrochemical tanker capacity to Britain's defence capabilities at home and across British Overseas Territories. These lifeline services demonstrate how defence spending and merchant shipping capabilities are inextricably linked – without reliable commercial maritime expertise, Britain remains vulnerable. 

Nautilus points to its recent report, NATO Member States' National Merchant Fleet and Seafarers, which highlights the critical decline in merchant maritime capabilities across the alliance. The report demonstrates how NATO countries have systematically neglected their merchant navies, creating dangerous vulnerabilities in national security infrastructure. 

'Our research shows that NATO members have allowed their merchant fleets to wither whilst becoming increasingly dependent on foreign-flagged vessels," Mr Dickinson said. 'This creates enormous strategic vulnerabilities in times of crisis. The government cannot talk about defence readiness whilst ignoring the maritime sector that underpins it.' 

The union welcomes the Review's recognition of the need for 'warfighting readiness' but insists this must include comprehensive investment in support vessels and maritime skills. Nautilus calls for immediate action to: 

• accelerate the replacement programme for aging RFA vessels 

• establish a dedicated recruitment and training strategy for merchant navy and maritime professionals

• increase investment in UK maritime training facilities and cadetships, apprenticeships and education

• work with NATO allies to reverse the decline in allied merchant shipping capacity

'The Strategic Defence Review rightly identifies the threats Britain faces, but it must be backed by real investment in the maritime infrastructure that makes defence operations possible,' Mr Dickinson added. 'The RFA and our merchant navy are not optional extras –they are fundamental to national security.'