- Transport Secretary launches first meeting of the new
Maritime Council to tackle major issues from sustainability to
seafarer welfare
- council will provide expertise and top-level oversight for
the Maritime 2050 strategy, helping deliver its 185
recommendations
- membership of the council made up of key figures from across
the industry
The first meeting of the Maritime Council brought together
figures from across the sector today (21 June 2023) to discuss
the delivery of government’s Maritime 2050
strategy, creating new jobs, boosting trade links and
minimising emissions.
The Maritime Council has been established in this pivotal period
as the maritime sector prepares itself for a net zero future. The
council will drive delivery of the recommendations set out in the
Maritime 2050 strategy and focus government and industry’s shared
priorities as it aims to grow a sector that is vital to the flow
of goods and services in and out of the country, boosting UK
economic growth while tackling carbon emissions.
During his opening address to the council, Transport Secretary
said:
As an island nation, maritime has always underpinned our national
connectivity and prosperity, so it’s vital we secure the
long-term future of this sector and deliver on the Maritime
2050’s recommendations to make the UK maritime sector the
strongest and most competitive in the world.
Not only will this help deliver the Prime Minister’s immediate
priority of growing the economy, it’ll also deliver on our
environmental ambitions by decarbonising its operations –
arguably maritime’s biggest transformation since sail gave way to
steam.
The first meeting was chaired by Transport Secretary , with subsequent meetings to be
chaired by Maritime Minister Baroness Vere.
Developed by the government and industry, Maritime 2050 sets
out 185 recommendations across 7 different themes, to ensure that
the UK maritime sector continues to lead from the front.
Maritime Minister Baroness Vere said:
It’s not just for government to set out a plan, it has to be
something that all parties can make a reality.
Collaboration with the industry will help deliver our shared
Maritime 2050 vision, revolutionising the UK’s relationship with
other countries, to grow and upskill the maritime workforce and
advance our world class safety standards.
Among these ambitions, the newly founded council will look at how
to deliver clean maritime growth, and how economic and
environmental benefits can converge to bring forward a
futureproof maritime sector.
Alongside this, it will support the commercial investment into
our maritime infrastructure, work to put the UK at the centre of
global safety and security standards, promote a more diverse
maritime workforce and unlock the potential of new technologies
in the sector.
To help accelerate progress to meet the recommendations, the
council will have the power to set up specific groups tasked with
working to ensure that the UK is delivering on its ambitions and
cementing our status as a world leader in the maritime sector.
The council will also oversee publication of a joint government
and industry annual report on the delivery progress of Maritime
2050.
