Great news
My family/work situation is too sketchy to be a part of the Flotilla yet, but I'm hopeful I could join it at some time.
The 2-part organisation of the Flotilla (players and staff members) make a lot of workload. Just a thought, but how about adding very minor responsibilities to the players as well. Like in a real-life organisation. You start as a green recruit with no need for much thinking, or much responsibility, and then if you progress, step by step you start to carry some minor responsibilities on your own.
If I had the chance to join the Flotilla now, I wouldn't mind if there was a 1-2 month Seaman Recruit time with just the orders to keep playing the game, and then if I want to and have behaved according to the Flotilla's rules, I could accept a promotion to Seaman Apprentice status with some very minor and easy responsibilities in helping out with the Flotilla's workload.
The goal would be to establish a delegation of workload: Operational work for the lowest level members - Tactical work for the middle level - Strategic work for the Flotilla highest level members.