Dutch seafarers face the axe but are backed up by mariners’ union.

Nautilus International has released a video in support of Dutch seafarers who face redundancy and pay reductions.  The video follows a petition presented to Maersk management over the 24 Dutch nationals and demands that they be given alternative employment.

Maersk recently sold the last of its Dutch-flagged vessels and announced that Dutch captains and Chief Engineers would remain as employees, but that 24 other Dutch mariners would be made redundant.

Maersk responded to the petition by saying the 24 could continue working, but under Danish employment contracts. Michael van Dam of Nautilus said: “That means that they will earn around 30% less and social protection is worse. That decline is too great.”