Shipping manifesto for a post-Brexit future

In it Guy Platten, CEO, UK Chamber of Shipping says that the UK can have a strong, confident and global future outside the EU.

Brexit he said provides a ‘new sense of purpose’ and offers significant opportunities, so long as tariff and customs-free trade deals can be secured and internal reforms can be made by government.

“It is vital that the Government makes good on its pledge to secure a strong and positive deal with the European Union, and to forge new and deeper trading relationships elsewhere. It is no less vital that it delivers significant reform of existing shipping policies – particularly in relation to the flag – so that the industry is on its best, most competitive footing,” he added.

The report is broken down into three chapters.

Protecting and growing UK trade tackles the issues of customs union, single market and ease of doing business, growing international trade and visas and borders.

Chapter two deals with the reforms necessary to allow the UK to compete globally which include the need to transform the UK ship register, boost government support for maritime training and to provide a level playing field for UK companies by considering impact on UK supply chain when awarding government contracts.

It deals lastly with opportunities outside the EU which include the need to remove outdated regulation through a European ‘red tape challenge’, extend the UK’s tonnage tax regime and restore duty free allowances for UK-EU passengers.

Download the full report from the UK Chamber of Shipping