Warning on UK marine staffing levels


The maritime professional’s trade union, Nautilus International, has welcomed a major new report which warns the UK government that seafarer numbers will continue to decline – adversely impacting defence and economic interests – unless increased levels of support are met. The independent review of the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme highlighted the value of the existing £15 million-a-year assistance, pointing out that for every £1 the government spends on SMarT there is a £4.80 return to the nation’s GDP.