Louise Ellman News

The UK government’s new maritime strategy “poses the right questions” about the country's shipping industry but “does not yet provide compelling answers on a range of key points that will have a major impact on this valuable sector of our economy” according to Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. The report here is from shipping trade association 'Maritime London'. Ms Ellman’s remarks launched the publication of a review into the UK shipping industry which was undertaken after the government and industry entered into a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2013.

The Department for Transport (DofT) must become a keener advocate for UK ports, urges the Transport Committee, in a new report looking at policy for improving road and rail access to ports. “The Department has brought forward a new high-level strategy on ports, but ministers must now provide more detail about how it will be implemented to prioritise the removal of constraints to port development caused by inadequate transport infrastructure. “Transport links – especially roads and rail – are crucial to the economic prosperity of our major ports.

Government shipping policy is set to come under intense scrutiny as The House of Commons Transport Committee calls for evidence on the government’s strategy for the maritime sector. The committee will take oral evidence in September, coinciding with London International Shipping Week. Meanwhile, Shipping Minister Stephen Hammond has stressed the importance of Britain’s growing shipping industry, who praises the vital economic contribution made by the UK shipping industry, worth GBP14-billion per year, and recognises the continued role of the UK as a leading maritime centre.

"We endorse the Government’s support for the more stringent regulation of sulphur emissions contained within the revised Annex VI because it will markedly improve air quality and deliver significant health and environmental benefits. These regulations were agreed on a worldwide basis through the International Maritime Organisation after several years of discussion. We believe that it's not appropriate for the Commission to go further than these globally-agreed limits by imposing tighter regulations on shipping operators at this time.