Whenever I tell people that I’ve been reading the Telegraph I get surprised looks. I work with the public sector so am careful never to declare my politics, but no one is likely to have me down as a classic Daily Telegraph reader.

Which is why I must explain that this Telegraph is the monthly journal of Nautilus UK, the Merchant Navy officers’ union, which I read because we do a good deal of work in the maritime skills sector. And the June edition is historic. The masthead has changed from the predictable and time-honoured blue to a more surprising orange – because Nautilus UK has merged with its Dutch sister, Nautilus NL, to form a genuinely international trade union, Nautilus International.

The logic behind the merger is compelling: shipping is an international business, so “the union for maritime professionals” must behave internationally if it is to do its best for its members. International trade unionism is hardly new, of course (that great stirring socialist anthem is called The Internationale, after all) but this is different.

This is a full-blown merger, with a single general secretary (initially a Brit, Mark Dickinson) and two assistant general secretaries, one each for the UK and NL sectors.

John Monks, general secretary of the European TUC, is quoted in the Telegraph as saying that Nautilus International is “the first genuine international trade union in Europe – and that’s a major step in an era of globalisation”. Brendan Barber, general secretary of the UK TUC, praised Nautilus for “redefining trade unionism”.

But it’s not just about structure, important as it is. It’s a different mindset. When I talked to one of the most senior people in the union a little while ago, when exploring the possibility that the current Maritime Skills Alliance might have to get close to one of the 25 sector skills councils to continue to get government funding, his question about the possible choice was disarming: “Which one is the most international?” It was a tough question to answer.

It’s hard to avoid the temptation to use a corny maritime metaphor – and I’m going to give in. I think this makes Nautilus a pilot, and shows others (not just unions) the way to go.