I worked as a cadet through Nautilus on two contracts in the Baltic. Supplies were generally fine and pay was made on time. The crew was mostly normal, although some chief engineers caused serious stress. Cadet rotation lasted six months, with one season on deck and the other in the engine department. Some captains did not record overtime by the actual hours and paid a maximum of $100 instead. Promotion was gradual, and cadets sometimes had to insist on being assigned as OS or wiper. Passages were short, from 4 hours to 1.5 days. Work clothes were provided on board, but the medical examination had to be paid for by the seafarer.
I currently work through Nautilus. It is an average-sized company, mostly operating smaller vessels, although there are opportunities to progress in rank and position. Supplies are fine in the Baltic, but on larger vessels they are more restrictive. Salaries are excellent, while joining and repatriation can be delayed. The crews are mostly Ukrainian, with some Polish and Estonian seafarers.
I worked through Nautilus offshore. Pay was good, and I was signed off exactly on time. The manager was very responsive and helped with any issue. I have not worked with this crewing agency on cargo vessels, so I can only comment on its offshore operations.
I worked two contracts through Nautilus and, overall, everything was excellent. I have no significant complaint about the company, apart from one Russian captain whose conduct was unacceptable.
I worked through Nautilus on a container vessel. There were no problems with food, and the crew was mainly Ukrainian, with a couple of Filipino deckhands and Polish captains. My monthly pay including overtime was higher than at many other companies, and there were no problems or delays on board. The office managers were always available and helped with any questions. Crew changes were arranged even when only one person needed replacing. I was satisfied with the company; they did not charge a joining fee and reimbursed the medical examination.
I was told that there might be no work, so the company provided €140 for work clothes. When I arrived on the vessel, they gave me the €140 because I could not afford to buy the clothes myself.
I was considered for a job through Nautilus on a vessel built in 1996. There was no proper interview: I only had a phone call where they asked what I knew and could do, and my English was checked only briefly. They kept me waiting with promises for a month without giving me anything concrete, so I stopped waiting and looked for another position.
I worked two contracts as a second officer through Nautilus. We sailed extensively in the Baltic, with short passages and relatively short port stays, but there was good internet access. Salaries were excellent and paid on time, supplies were delivered reliably, and there were no problems with food. One contract included a difficult repair period in Riga in August–September 2023. Crew turnover was high among most junior officers, while the captains, chief officers, chief engineers and bosuns were more stable.
I worked for Nautilus in 2017–2018. My first vessel was a general cargo ship and my second was a container ship. I joined after completing the crewing agency's English courses, was offered a job the next day, and did not pay any joining fee. I received three promotions in total, but there was no further career growth, so I moved to another company as a fourth engineer. I have since progressed to second engineer on large vessels, from Panamax to Capesize.