LONDON: The British government launched a study aiming at how to boost British multi-billion pound maritime industry.The study, scheduled to report in summer 2015, was expected to make recommendations that could benefit ship financing, maritime education, research and technology, according to the Department for Transport.
“The UK maritime sector is a great success story,” said shipping and ports minster John Hayes.
“The maritime growth study will look to maintain and enhance this achievement by ensuring the maritime sector can succeed in the future. We want to keep the industry at the heart of the government’s long term economic plan,” Hayes added.
The study will be chaired by Jeffrey Evans, chairman of Maritime UK, which brings together the voices of the shipping, ports and business service sectors.
“With world trade set to increase significantly over the next 20 years, it is crucial that we investigate what more can be done to grow this key national asset to secure jobs and economic benefits for the UK,” said Evans.
The maritime sector directly contributes up to around 14 billion pounds (about 22 billion U.S. dollars) to the British economy and directly supports the employment of up to around 260,000 people.
