TUC Congress gets behind maritime skills and training

Delegates at this year's TUC Congress, which is being held from 7-10 September 2025, have unanimously voted in support of a motion by Nautilus International titled Future-Proofing UK Maritime Skills and Training.

The motion commits the union federation to support Nautilus's campaign for:

• 100% SMarT funding and a minimum training allowance to support trainee maritime professionals
• the establishment of a single national maritime training provider, accountable to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) or the Department for Transport (DfT), to ensure consistent, high-quality training provision
• a comprehensive review and reform of the UK Tonnage Tax to incentivise shipowners to register vessels with the UK flag and provide quality onboard training and subsequent employment to British seafarers

Proposing the motion, Captain Iain MacKenzie, a CalMac ferry master and vice-chair of Nautilus International Council, 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.

'There's a growing gap in training funding—one that’s proving harder and harder to fill. Employers, training providers and unions are already making sacrifices to keep training afloat, but this burden cannot be carried by the industry alone. Without full government support, we risk losing the next generation of maritime professionals. 

'And this isn’t just about officer training. Ratings – the skilled seafarers who form the backbone of every vessel – face even greater challenges. Theirs is limited funding, conflicting career pathways, and little recognition of their essential role. If we're serious about building a future-ready maritime workforce, we must support everyone onboard. 

'Training provision is fragmented. Providers operate without direct accountability to the MCA or DfT. That leads to inconsistent standards and poor outcomes. We need a single national maritime training provider – one that's coordinated, accountable, and focused on quality. 

'And the UK Tonnage Tax? It was meant to incentivise shipowners to register vessels under the UK flag and invest in training, but it's outdated. The number of UK-flagged vessels has fallen, and the tax regime no longer delivers the training and employment it promised. Reform must tie benefits to real commitments – training and employing UK resident seafarers, and flying the Red Ensign with pride. 

'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.  

'Stand with the seafarers who keep this country moving. Support this motion. Let’s build a maritime future that is skilled, secure, and just.'