The report reinforces a challenge that many operators are already facing: uncertainty is increasingly shaping business decisions, investment and day-to-day operations. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tension, cyber threats and regulatory change, creating a stable and predictable environment for UK shipping businesses remains critical.

The vast majority of respondents completed the survey ahead of the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and yet still identified geopolitical instability as the most significant risk to business operations for the fourth year in a row. For the UK, the findings underline the need for a more joined-up approach to maritime, recognising the close links between geopolitical risk, supply chain security and cyber preparedness.

Cyber security continues to rise up the agenda, with the Barometer ranking it as the second-highest risk to operation. As shipping embraces digital technologies, artificial intelligence and increasingly connected logistics networks, industry and government must work together to strengthen resilience against a rapidly evolving threat landscape. The report highlights growing concern that the scale and sophistication of cyber threats is outpacing confidence in the industry’s ability to respond and contain them.

The Barometer also identifies regulation, public funding and market-based measures as the most influential impact factors. For operators calling to the UK and EU, as progress on global frameworks remain uneven, regional and national framework create distinct challenges of managing overlapping, data-heavy reporting and emissions trading regimes. With funding constraints identified, and uncertainty following the IMO Net-Zero Framework delay, nearly four in ten respondents reported pausing, modifying or cancelling plans due to regulatory uncertainty. Responders expressed a preference for traditional fuels that have established supply mechanisms, with LNG and Biofuels jointly identified as the most viable alternative fuel options for transition, followed closely by HFO combined with abatement technologies.

For the Chamber, the report reinforces a clear message: certainty is key for investment strategies. Shipping businesses need the confidence to plan and operate in an increasingly complex environment. Delivering that confidence requires coordinated action to support the energy transition and provide greater clarity on the policy frameworks that will shape the sector's future.

The Chamber will be scrutinising the wider findings of the Barometer and using them to inform its engagement with the UK Government. Chamber Members are also invited to share their perspectives with Graysen Morency and Robert Merrylees.

Access the full Maritime Barometer Report 2025-2026 on the International Chamber of Shipping's (ICS) website