Deborah McPherson

Maritime web editor, voluntary guidedog boarder. Garden a lot. Keeps a geeky eye on all things Umbraco/Episerver/ Sharepoint.(views my own)

[Merchant Navy Welfare Board @MNWBUK]

🎖️ Merchant Navy Medal nominations close in 8 days ⏳

Know someone from the Merchant Navy or fishing fleets who deserves recognition?

Submit a nomination today 👉https://t.co/H0TqaaHMwp

#MerchantNavyMedal #Seafarers #MerchantNavy

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

A special welcome to our new General Secretary, Sascha Meijer! 🎉
Today, colleagues across four offices — Liverpool, London, Rotterdam and Basel — came together over lunch to celebrate Sascha stepping into the highest position in our Union.
From the very beginning, Sascha has brought energy, ambition and positive change. 🙌
Here's to a bright future ahead together.
Welkom, Sascha!
#NautilusInternational #NewLeadership #GeneralSecretary #MaritimeUnion #TeamNautilus

[International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) @ITFglobalunion]

"Not knowing if we are going to get out of this situation alive is our main concern — because it doesn't matter where you are in the Gulf, there is no safe place here."🔗
https://t.co/JflC7Yg50W

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

We're speaking up for Nautilus members this week at the TUC Women's Conference in Bournemouth!

In this picture, R-L: Rachel Lynch, Sarah Robinson and Christine McLean from Nautilus with our RMT union colleague Emma Purcell

@RMTunion #TUCWomen2026 #internationalwomensday

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

The joy of giving

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

🔔Spreading Christmas cheer🎁
Huge thanks to Paula Jones, a Nautilus Welfare Fund healthcare assistant at Mariners' Park, for leading a toy and gift collection for children in Wallasey. Her partnership with local charity Voice of Egremont and the support of our mariner community have made this possible.
'Paula’s efforts are a perfect reflection of our values' – Siobhan Napier, Nautilus clinical lead and deputy manager at the Mariners' Park Care Home
#NautilusWelfareFund #CommunitySpirit #ChristmasKindness

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

🌺🫡🎖️ Nautilus International joins in remembering Merchant Navy sacrifices this #ArmisticeDay ⚓️🚢🎖️
At 11:00, we paused to honour those who served, while officials laid wreaths and retired seafarers at Nautilus Mariners' Park held a service.
#LestWeForget #Remembrance #NautilusInternational #MerchantNavy #Seafarers

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

Nautilus members and officials from the UK and the Netherlands paid their respects to Merchant Navy seafarers killed in global conflicts at 2025 Remembrance ceremonies held in London and Wallasey.

Nautilus assistant general secretary (AGS) Sascha Meijer travelled from the Netherlands to lay a wreath for the first time in her AGS role during a ceremony at the UK Merchant Navy Memorial on Tower Hill in London on Remembrance Sunday.

We were also represented at Westminster Abbey, and Nautilus Care Home residents and staff created a poignant poppy display ahead of their commemoration of Armistice Day on 11 November.

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

In ocean wastes no poppies blow...but Merchant Navy seafarers sacrifices throughout global conflicts are still remembered..I'm sure the Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill London will be busier today than when I passed through in a different season.

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

▶️Watch our interview on NautilusTV with MCG chair Dr Tim Slingsby about the findings from the Seafarer 2040 demographic research which Nautilus took part in.
https://t.co/6880zU1ZE7

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

▶️Watch the interview: https://t.co/hG72sh2WY0

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

📺 The latest NautilusTV is out now! From World Maritime Day to tackling abuse at sea – watch here: https://t.co/p8NVvbK2Wn

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

Where are the seafarers?

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

£1.1bn maritime investment announced - but where are the seafarers?

We welcome the Government's significant investment in ports and green maritime tech, but infrastructure alone won't deliver maritime resilience.

The reality: UK seafarer numbers are declining just when global disruptions have shown how critical these skills are to our national security and supply chains.
What's missing? A commitment to seafarer training and skills development.

You can't build a world-leading maritime sector without world-class maritime professionals. Other maritime nations get this - they invest heavily in seafarer training because they understand its strategic importance.

Our ask: Match infrastructure investment with commitment to the people who'll operate it. Britain needs skilled seafarers for economic prosperity, resilience, and national security.

Read more: https://t.co/o28KrTfWwT

#MaritimeSkills #SeafarerTraining #MaritimeInvestment #NauticalTraining #UKMaritime

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

These immersion suits look tricky but seafarers get to grips with them

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

We’re at #TUC2025 this week, joining trade unionists from across the movement to champion safer workplaces for seafarers. 🌊⚓

Come and see us at Stand 61 and take on the Nautilus Safety Challenge – can you get into an immersion suit in under two minutes? ⏱🧑‍✈️

Find out more about the work we do 👉 https://t.co/sM4ZFUgj4P

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

TUC Congress delegates get behind maritime skills and training

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

@The_TUC gets behind maritime skills and training
Speaking in support of the unanimously agreed Nautilus International motion on Future-proofing UK Maritime Skills and Training at TUC Congress 2025, Nautilus Council member Iain MacKenzie said: 'The UK is a maritime nation. Our economy, our security, our global standing – they all depend on the sea. From the merchant ships that kept us supplied in wartime to the ferries, container ships and tankers that keep our economy moving today – 95% of all the goods we have come by sea. Our seafarers have always been essential. Today, the future of our maritime workforce is under threat.

'Congress, despite all the rhetoric about growth and ambition, this government refuses to commit the funding needed to deliver a better maritime future. It praises our seafarers, but won’t invest in their training. That's not good enough.

'That is why we need the measures contained in this motion. They are crucial for securing a steady stream of highly skilled maritime professionals, supporting a Just Transition, and revitalising the nation's maritime industry and its contribution to the nation's security and resilience. '

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

Nautilus gets down to work for employment rights for seafarers at TUC Congress

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

British trade unions have put their full weight behind the Nautilus campaign to enhance protections for seafarers in the UK government's Employment Rights Bill at the TUC Congress 2025 in Brighton, UK.
Speaking in support of the composite motion Nautilus head of organising Martyn Gray said: 'For too long, UK seafarers have been treated like the forgotten workforce, out of sight, out of mind, and all too often, out of rights. This bill puts seafarers on the face of primary legislation, and if strengthened and fully applied, offers a once in a generation chance to change that. '
Delegates responded warmly, voting unanimously in favour of the composite motion, which combined with motions from other unions on the same topic.

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

My colleagues are doing a great job at the Nautilus 'ship's cabin' aka stand 61 at TUC Congress in Brighton... it has a safety drill challenge as well!

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

Nautilus is ready to raise the profile of seafarers at #TUC2025! Visit us at Stand 61 to explore our interactive exhibition.

We’re also taking our fight for fair employment directly to Congress with a motion addressing the problem of offshore employment contracts and the impact of flags of convenience.

A special thank you to everyone who took part in the Nautilus Safety Drill Challenge, we’ll be running it throughout Congress, so come along and put your skills to the test! ⚓

[Deborah McPherson @vlanmacdee]

So sad to hear about this

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

Nautilus general secretary calls for union solidarity in TUC Congress President's Address - Read more here: 👇https://t.co/cKiXlrCqfz

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

Nautilus is ready to raise the profile of seafarers at @The_TUC Congress in Brighton. Come and see us on our interactive exhibition at Stand 61!. We're also taking our fight for fair employment directly to Congress with a motion highlighting the problem of offshore employment contracts and the impact of flags of convenience.

[Nautilus International @nautilusint]

On Merchant Navy Day, Nautilus members proudly raised the Red Ensign at events across the UK – from Glasgow and Wallasey to Nottinghamshire and Dover – while residents at Mariners’ Park joined together for a special service of remembrance. Nautilus officials attended ceremonies to honour merchant seafarers, and the union will also be represented at the annual national service at the Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill in London. This year’s commemoration is especially significant, as 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the UK-wide ‘Fly the Red Ensign’ campaign, launched to highlight the Merchant Navy’s essential role in national life, both in wartime and peacetime. It is a day to reflect on the courage, service and sacrifice of merchant seafarers past and present, whose contribution has been, and continues to be, vital.