Rhett Hatcher
CEO, UK Chamber of Shipping
Join over 200 industry leaders at Shipping UK on 8 October to tackle global challenges like decarbonisation, sustainable growth and digitisation.
Shipping is critical to UK and global prosperity and the years ahead are full of uncertainty. In the last decade, we have witnessed a pandemic, armed conflict, economic volatility, the increasing dependency on technology and data, political uncertainty as well as the challenge of implementing plans to decarbonise the industry.
Conference for shipping decarbonisation
Given this situation, on 8 October, Shipping UK, our first-ever conference, will bring together over 200 representatives from across the industry and Government in order to consider these challenges and some potential solutions.
While all important, the most universally challenging is unquestionably decarbonisation. Although transport by sea is the most carbon-efficient mode of transport and action is already underway to reduce emissions, we cannot escape the fact that shipping is responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. More needs to be done to ensure shipping reaches net zero.
Clean Maritime Plan crucial to net zero shipping
With shipping operating globally, international coordination and agreement to reduce emissions are vital. The International Maritime Organization has made good progress by agreeing on a target of net zero by around 2050. However, we now need to see measures, both internationally and domestically, put in place to achieve this target.
With shipping operating globally, international coordination and agreement to reduce emissions are vital.
In the UK, this means re-energising the Clean Maritime Plan. This was first published in 2019, and a review is now long overdue. This plan — the UK’s blueprint for how to reduce greenhouse gases and wider pollutants from the maritime sector — must work alongside international agreements and targets, so we have an accurate picture of the progress shipping is making to decarbonise. It also needs to build on the limited public funding to date with significant new investment.
Make green investment in shipping a priority
Continued research and development, a financial environment that rewards green investment, supporting our future seafarers and infrastructure that aids shipping on its decarbonisation pathway will all require public investment. This is already happening elsewhere with almost €300 million invested in the Port of Rotterdam alone in 2023. The forthcoming 2024 Budget and 2025 Spending Review are excellent opportunities for the UK Government to show that it wholeheartedly supports shipping in the UK.
Positioning the UK as leader in shipping decarbonisation
With a new long-term framework that encourages public and private sector collaboration and appropriate investment, the UK can be a global leader on how to decarbonise shipping while ensuring we remain at the centre of prosperity and stability — not just around our coastline but across the globe.
