UK government announces ambitious maritime strategy

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Maritime is a vital UK industry, bringing in £14 billion to our economy as well as providing thousands of new and exciting careers for people across the country. This strategy is a clear message to the world – we will continue to be a leading maritime nation for the next 30 years and beyond.”

An immediate goal is to establish the UK as the best location to trial and develop autonomous vessels, and to attract inward investment and international businesses.

Immediate measures include legislation to introduce a framework for autonomous vessels to enhance testing in UK waters, while the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will address safety issues associated with automation.

A second short-term target is to build on the UK’s position in seafarer training by pioneering the use of virtual and augmented reality technology. The government will establish a Maritime Skills Commission to identify existing and future requirements.

The strategy also includes medium-term goals, including establishing an innovation hub at a UK port by 2030. Meanwhile, the government is committed to publishing a Clean Maritime Plan setting out ways the UK will take a leading role in green standards to reach zero emission shipping later in 2019.

Harry Theochari, chairman of Maritime UK, said: “For the first time the maritime sector has a real long-term strategy – setting out what government and industry will do to position the UK as the world’s leading maritime nation over the coming decades in an increasingly competitive global context. There are monumental opportunities for our sector – whether on technology, coastal economic development, attracting more maritime business to our shores or for the people that underpin our success.”