It feels like it has been quite a momentous week. The England football team has done something none of its predecessors have done for 55 years and made the final of a major competition. At the same time the government has finally announced that double vaccinated adults will no longer need to isolate when returning from amber list countries.

We are pleased to see that the government has taken this sensible decision and entry restrictions have been eased for UK nationals. This is a positive step in the right direction and this decision will benefit our ferry members and their passengers who can now book their travel with much greater confidence.

There are still issues around international travel, especially for our cruise members and next week I will be meeting with the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Tom Tugendhat, to discuss the ongoing restrictions and what more can be done.

This week has been Maritime Safety Week, with numerous meetings and events looking at how we can promote a safer environment for those who work and enjoy spending time in and around water. Our Policy Manager Mel White has written an excellent blog about the work the Chamber is doing around safety and safety culture. It is well worth a read.

We have also been working with the Ministry of Defence this week. The MoD has a potential future requirement to provide an in-service support solution for five new Type 31 ‘Inspiration Class’ frigates that will be at the heart of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet. They are open to engaging with suppliers or consortia interested in offering a global ship support solution and if anyone is interested in finding out more you can head to this website which has more information.

The International Chamber of Shipping has released a Maritime Barometer Survey this week aimed at shipping executives. The survey will evaluate current trends in the maritime industry and look to glean valuable insights into important issues for shipping leaders around the world. The survey can be accessed here.

Bob