Nautilus International recovered more than £1 million in unpaid wages for yacht crew during 2025, continuing the Union's longstanding work to support members who face mistreatment in the superyacht sector.
'Once again, the Union has achieved a landmark figure,' said Nautilus head of yacht sector Derek Byrne. 'While the total amount recovered this year is slightly lower than in previous years, I would like to emphasise that this does not indicate an improvement in the underlying situation.'
The £1 million figure represents only those cases that were successfully concluded during the year. It does not capture the full scale of wage deprivation experienced by yacht crew, nor the financial hardship caused by delayed payments. Nautilus continues to pursue outstanding claims on behalf of members and expects further recoveries once these cases reach settlement or enforcement stages.
'Crew should therefore remain vigilant and ensure that they are members of the Union before any dispute occurs so that we can offer our full legal support,' Mr Byrne added. 'Those who are already members and become suspicious that they will not be paid should get in touch as soon as possible so we can begin work to resolve the situation. Prompt intervention can improve the prospects of recovery and reduce prolonged uncertainty for affected crew.'
Unpaid wages remain a persistent issue within parts of the yacht industry, despite clear contractual and legal obligations on employers to pay crew in full and on time. Nautilus International continues to engage with flag states, port authorities, insurers and legal counterparts to press for compliance and to ensure that members' rights are upheld.
On joining, members of Nautilus International are provided with advice on how to understand their contractual entitlements, and also their rights under the Maritime Labour Convention – which can help crew to identify when there is a problem and when they have a right to seek help due to unfair treatment.
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