LONDON: The CEO and Policy Director of the UK Chamber of Shipping met with the Shipping Minister, Robert Goodwill MP this week as part of their regular programme of meetings with political stakeholders.
Top of the agenda was the reforms of the MCA, highlighted by chamber members and industry leaders from around the world as being vital to reverse the decline of the UK flag.
The Minister confirmed that the recruitment process for a Commercial Director at the MCA, who will lead the charge in finding ways of making the UK Ship Register more attractive, is well in hand.
UK Chamber CEO Guy Platten said:
“Reform of the MCA was a key recommendation in the recent Maritime Growth Study, in response to the fact that the flag has declined by 36% in the past 5 years.
“The Minister knows our views – that the MCA has to become much more commercial and customer focused. Our challenge is to now ensure Government responds to this recommendation and delivers the necessary reforms for the good not just of the industry, but for UK PLC.”
The chamber was able to report on the very positive outcome from the London International Shipping Week, in particular its merit in showcasing the UK and attracting companies to base themselves here. At least one large foreign based company is likely to do so in the near future.
The Minister also confirmed that the Ministerial Working Group, also recommended in the growth study, will go ahead as planned though the first meeting has slipped to probably late November or early December.
A discussion on the industry’s single promotional body then followed, the point being made by the chamber that its aims and purpose have yet to be fully understood but that maritime lobbying capabilities must be retained by individual associations. The chamber has scheduled a meeting with key, but wide ranging bodies in mid-November to take this forward.
The chamber also briefed the Minister on a useful initiative by DECC to ensure more UK job opportunities in offshore windfarm development and construction in UK waters but noted this was focussed on shore jobs. The point was made that the UK must do more to ensure the UK also has a bigger stake in the jobs at sea, in the way that our North European continental colleagues are doing to ensure their share of the job market.
Shipping activity at Port Qasim on February 11
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