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Nautilus International has a long history of involvement in maritime research. Three new studies illustrate the importance of such work to the conditions experienced by seafarers onboard, writes Sarah Robinson
What exactly is academic research for? Some might worry that it can be too abstract and scholarly, but at its best, research is a powerful tool to create change – providing evidence that national and international decision-makers cannot ignore.
That's why Nautilus backs studies that have the potential to improve members' lives.
Sometimes we commission research ourselves or with partners, as with the recent Nautilus/MM&P study showing the importance of NATO member states investing in their Merchant Navies (see the July/August 2025 Telegraph).
We also support research projects commissioned by other organisations, if we can see their value to maritime professionals. We do this by helping the researchers recruit participants, for example, or by publicising the findings of the research so our members and staff can use this evidence in their negotiating and campaigning work.
This summer, three such projects came to a conclusion, and we are pleased in this special report to bring you the findings of research carried out by Solent University, the University of Winchester, and the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) at Cardiff University.
In the case of SIRC, the research we're presenting was one of the final acts of this highly-respected body, which has recently been closed by Cardiff University after three decades of valuable work. This has been of great regret to Nautilus, not least because our general secretary Mark Dickinson was instrumental in establishing SIRC in 1995 during his time at the International Transport Workers' Federation.
At that time, there was a gap to fill in the provision of maritime research, but thanks to the success of SIRC, other universities have now followed the Centre's lead and stepped up their own studies, so Professor Helen Sampson and her colleagues have left an important legacy.
We hope you find the following articles interesting and useful, and if you have any feedback on the studies, please write to telegraph@nautilusint.org
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