Merchant Navy Medal: your chance to honour excellence across a diverse maritime workforce

Do you know someone who always goes the extra mile at sea or ashore?  

Nautilus International is encouraging members to recognise those outstanding individuals by nominating them for the 2026 UK Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service – the highest award of its kind. 

The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2026, and this is your chance to ensure a deserving colleague's contribution does not go unnoticed. 

The medal honours those who demonstrate devotion to duty, exemplary service, and leadership that inspires others, from masters and engineers to ratings and shore-based professionals. It also celebrates the essential role seafarers play in keeping global trade moving and supply chains intact. 

You can nominate anyone who is serving or has served in the Merchant Navy or fishing fleets of the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, or British Overseas Territories. The government is particularly keen to see nominations reflecting the diversity of today's maritime workforce, across all roles and backgrounds. 

Submitting a nomination is straightforward via the online form. 

Note that nominations must be made confidentially.