Charting a course through UK maritime pensions – how Nautilus supports members

Deborah McPherson speaks to Nautilus International's head of governance and compliance, Garry Elliott, about how the Union is navigating the evolving landscape of UK maritime pensions – and what's coming next for members.

For many UK seafarers, pensions can feel like the most complex part of their working life. Career patterns, offshore employment arrangements, and the shifting nature of pension legislation mean that retirement planning is rarely straightforward for seafarers. 

That's why Nautilus International has long played a central role in helping members understand the systems available to them – and in negotiating with employers to ensure fair and sustainable pension arrangements. But as Nautilus head of governance and compliance Garry Elliott explains, the landscape has changed significantly, and the Union is preparing for a major step forward in support for members. 

The long history of industry pensions  

Unlike many shoreside workers, generations of UK seafarers have relied on industry maritime schemes. 

For decades, most officers would have been part of the now closed Merchant Navy Officers' Pension Fund (MNOPF), which served the industry from 1937 before closing to new entrants in 1997. Newer members moved into the Merchant Navy Officers Pension Plan (MNOPP) – but that, too, closed in 2016. 'Over time, we’ve moved as an industry from defined benefit schemes like the MNOPF to defined contribution master trusts,' Mr Elliott says. 'After MNOPP closed, the next step was the Ensign scheme, which in recent years moved to the SMART Pension scheme. However, because many seafarers work on offshore contracts that fall outside UK jurisdiction, employer participation in such schemes can vary.'  

Can the Union bargain on pensions? 

The short answer is yes – but the detail varies. 

'Some companies have chosen to use their own, in-house pension plans,' Mr Elliott explains. 'That gives our industrial colleagues the opportunity to negotiate around those schemes directly. So, we can – and do – raise pension issues as part of pay reviews and broader bargaining.' 

A new direction: modernising the Nautilus Pension Association 

While the Union can negotiate, it cannot give pension or financial advice. That is where the Nautilus Pension Association (NPA) comes in. 

First established in 1999 and revamped in 2009, the NPA has historically acted as a signposting service, helping members find the right regulated financial advisors or support organisations. But now it's ready for reinvention. 

'We are looking to modernise the NPA,' Mr Elliott says. 'We want to broaden it from pensions into a wider financial planning hub – a sort of "one-stop-shop" for pensions and financial wellbeing information.' 

This could include pre-retirement planning, 'life after sea' guidance, and better connections with professional advisory services. Importantly, members have already told the Union they want this, and Nautilus intends to build it with member input. A dedicated survey of members approaching retirement will launch later this year, after the Council elections conclude in April 2026. 

Member volunteers wanted 

As Nautilus rebuilds the NPA, it is looking for members who want to help shape its future. 'You don’t have to be close to retirement,' Mr Elliott stresses. 'Volunteers of any age, rank or sector are welcome. 

'Many members are now retiring earlier, with decades of active life ahead of them,' he adds. 'They need guidance on transitioning away from sea – whether they're drawing their pension or not.' 

Working on the national stage 

Nautilus's pensions work doesn't stop at the maritime sector. The Union also sits on the executive committee of the National Pensions Convention, established by the TUC to represent pension concerns across the whole of the UK. 

'That national voice is crucial,' Mr Elliott says. 'We want to make sure our maritime members’ needs are part of national pension policy discussions.' 

Linking with the Nautilus Welfare Fund 

The Nautilus Welfare Fund charity, which runs Mariners' Park retirement complex in Wallasey, has also been conducting a demographic survey of retired seafarers, which will help shape the future of both welfare and pension support. 

'That research will also give us valuable insights,' says Mr Elliott. 'Together, it will help determine our long-term strategy for retirement services.'