Shipowners body the UK Chamber of Shipping has today published a 30-page “Blueprint for Growth” outlining the policies it would like the British Government to adopt as it negotiates the country’s exit from the EU.

The main tenets of document follow closely a position paper issued earlier this month by Maritime UK – the unified “one voice” body for British shipping that besides the Chamber also includes the UK Major Ports Group, maritime engineering association the Society of Marine Industries, and professional business services body Maritime London.

Maritime UK summarised its “key priorities” as being for government to: ensure an attractive business environment, adopt a global approach to global issues, and back British industry.

Specific policies recommended were to:

• maintain access to the single market or equally favourable trading relationship; 


• avoid disruption to UK trade with the EU and third countries; 


• ensure minimum disruption to the flow of goods and people at the UK border; 


• strategically review the statutory residency test to ensure UK attractiveness for maritime industry investors; 


• maintain reciprocal rights for those working abroad in the maritime industry; 


• ensure that industry has the people and skills it needs; 


• work with industry when reviewing the continuity of existing EU regulation post-Brexit;

• build a UK regulatory environment that maximises the nation’s competitive advantage;

• strengthen the logistics chain through support for infrastructure and investment; and

• create a visa regime that facilitates industry’s growth.

“In light of the decision to leave the EU, the UK must now, more than ever, capitalise on our global reputation as a world class maritime nation, embrace trade opportunities and deliver prosperity across the country, ” urged Maritime UK chairman David Dingle. He pointed out that the maritime industry supports over 500,000 jobs nationwide and contributes £22.2bn to UK GDP.

“Ensuring a good deal with the EU is vital, but it is not the only thing that matters,” added UK Chamber of Shipping ceo Guy Platten. “We need an ambitious programme of reform to prepare ourselves both for the challenges and opportunities that are on the horizon.”

Source: seatrade-maritime.com