Nautilus International Council Elections 2026

Welcome to the online nomination site for our 2026 Council Elections.

Nautilus International is a democratic union that values diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential to our mission. Full members of Nautilus International can stand for election to the Council, as long as there are vacancies within the category you are looking to be nominated for and you have the support of four other full members within your branch of the union. The table contained in the link below (how are the council positions spread across the branches), shows the vacancies in categories that are up for election in 2026 across the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK.

It’s our mission to inspire and develop the maritime professionals of tomorrow. To succeed in this mission and help all union members develop the skills that will help them fulfill their potential, we must continue to play our part in building a more inclusive and equitable world, starting with our own organisation. If you want to get more involved with the activities of your union and help drive the union’s work in championing fairness for our maritime professionals – Council is certainly for you, and we look forward to receiving your nomination!

Here you can find out more about the Council, why you should apply, and how to submit your nomination.

Elections for placements on the Council are to be held at least every five years. This election is for all 26 council positions across all branches

What is the Council, and what do they do?

The Nautilus International Council is the Union's governing body. It is composed of 26 serving maritime professionals plus the Nautilus general secretary, each elected to serve a five-year term. Of the Council places, 18 of the 26 positions are for members of the UK branch, seven places for members of the Netherlands branch, and one for the Switzerland branch.

The Nautilus Council is responsible for ensuring the work of the Union is relevant and representative of the interests of our 20,000 members across the UK, Netherlands and Switzerland. Council members will scrutinise activities of the Union, receiving reports from each of the union’s departments and taking key strategic decisions that will define the future of the union.

Council members are elected by eligible full members, to represent all members, but are categorised to ensure that the demography of the Council is reflective of the membership of the Union.

The Council is also the Trustee of the Nautilus Welfare Fund, which is the registered charity administered by Nautilus.

How many Council meetings will I have to attend?

Council meets three times per year, with the ability to attend both online and in-person. We understand Council members will not be able to attend every meeting, therefore attendance is not compulsory.

All Council members will receive full training, so if you have never sat on a Council before, this is a great opportunity for you! You will also receive expenses for travel, accommodation, and subsistence – you will not be out of pocket.

Alongside meetings of council, there are various forums/committees you can join. These include establishments committee (governance, strategy, policy and finance), welfare fund committee, professional and technical forum, equality and diversity forum and Nautilus pensions association. These forums/committees offer Council members opportunities to learn more and gain a deeper insight into more specific work of the Union.

We anticipate the total time commitment for involvement in Council to be 10 days throughout the year.

How are the Council positions spread across the Branches?

Category	Total Seats	UK Seats	NL Seats	CH Seats
1. Navigators (including Shipmasters)	10	7	3	0
2. Engineers (including ETO’s/Electricians/ Radio Officers)	7	5	2	0
3. Ratings	2	2	0	0
4. Inland Navigation	2	0	1	1
5. Other particular categories, including hotel services and shore-based members	5	4	1	0
TOTALS	26	18	7	1

Why should I apply to become a Council member?

A union is only as strong as its members. Council elections are an opportunity for you to get involved and build the future of Nautilus International.

The Nautilus International Council is designed to reflect the Nautilus membership base, with representatives drawn from the three branches and from different employment backgrounds within the maritime and inland navigation sectors.

Being a Council member will also give you:

Experience with shore-based business for those looking to move ashore
Board level experience for members looking to expand their career options
Networking with maritime professionals

Watch a short video from Mark Dickinson, general secretary, explaining the election process, and why you should apply:

Watch a short video from Rob Coston, communications manager, and Garry Elliott, senior national secretary, explaining the election process, and why you should apply:

To start your nomination, click the button below. Completed nominations must be received by 17:00 hrs UK Time on Monday 24 November 2025.

COMPLETE YOUR NOMINATION