30
Sep 22

The Weekly Bulletin – 30th September

In a busy week politically and industry-wide, there are significant questions affecting the activity of businesses and organisations across the UK. This week, the Chamber has been proactively engaging key stakeholders and politicians, leading conversations around the wider shipping agenda at the Labour Party Conference and will be doing the same from this weekend at the Conservative Conference. This engagement is an important part of ensuring the views of our members remains firmly at the forefront of policy and decision-making.
 

Yesterday, Transport Secretary the Rt Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP announced funding for the third round of the clean maritime demonstration competition (CMDC), running from April 2023 to March 2025, boosting innovation to help us all deliver an emission-free maritime sector. Read more below.

Labour Party Conference

Earlier this week, the Chamber attended the Labour Party Conference, including a lunch hosted by Mersey Maritime and Maritime UK, with shadow maritime minister Mike Kane MP and other Labour MPs. Discussion topics included decarbonisation focusing on the importance of integrated infrastructure, upskilling the sector and how we can deliver regional growth.

The Chamber has agreed to meet with Mr Kane on a 1-2-1 basis in Westminster next month.

Next week, the Chamber is attending the Conservative Party Conference and a short report will be included in the next edition of the Bulletin.

Any members wanting to discuss either conference in further detail or meet with the Chamber at Conservative Conference should contact the Chamber’s communications director Tom Bartošák-Harlow.

Latest round of funding for Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition announced

The Transport Secretary has announced £60m of funding for the third round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), which will run from April 2023 to March 2025 and is designed to help innovative companies and scientists deliver an emission-free maritime sector.

UK companies will be able to bid for a slice of the funding to support the development of early-stage clean maritime technologies for wider use in the future.

The Chamber has welcomed the announcement of this latest funding, central to “instilling confidence in the UK shipping industry to invest in new technologies and fuels”, but also highlighted the need for action to support the delivery of integrated infrastructure in ports and elsewhere.

You can read more information about the announcement, including our full reaction, details of upcoming information events and how to apply for funding on the Chamber’s website here.
 

Director of Safety and Environment change

I would like to join the Supervisory Board in congratulating our current Director of Safety and Environment Anna Ziou on her new appointment, joining Carnival Corporation. Thank you Anna for all your hard work and commitment over the past nine years with the Policy team; you shall be missed.

We are recruiting a new director and the role is advertised here. Please share with colleagues and peers.

Latest member updates

Chamber members are reminded that they have exclusive access to a range of updates from the Chamber’s policy experts on a wide spectrum of issues. Latest updates this week include:

Upcoming events

RESCHEDULED: Following the postponement because of the death of Queen Elizabeth II the Harbour Towage Panel meeting will now be held at 11.30 on Thursday 13 October 2022 at Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool. Please contact panel secretary Robert Merrylees to register your attendance.

NEW EVENT: The UK Chamber of Shipping is delighted to partner with our member Waves Group on this ‘Lithium-Ion Battery Carriage: Fire Risks & Containment Measures’ webinar on 31 October.

While lithium-Ion batteries use increases as the world seeks to decarbonise, they are also causing safety concerns during transportation on ships. This webinar will look at the risks and hazards of transporting these batteries both inside containers and onboard Ro-Ro vessels.

The webinar will also be looking at the firefighting techniques and containment measures used to control such fires. To register please click here.

Autumn Lunch: The UK Chamber of Shipping will be hosting an Autumn Lunch in Southampton on Wednesday 2nd November at the Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa. Kindly sponsored by V.Group, this event will provide members and non-members a chance to have a Q&A with President Graham Westgarth, and a platform to meet and network with industry peers in celebration of UK Shipping.

  • 11.00 am - 11.45 am: Q&A with the Chamber President
  • 11.45am - 12.15pm: Drinks Reception
  • 12.15pm - 3pm: Lunch

Please book tickets via our website.

British Tugowners Association (BTA) Annual Safety Seminar: The BTA will be holding its Annual Safety Seminar on 10 November in Edinburgh, at the premises of the Northern Lighthouse Board. We are pleased to announce that the theme of the event is recovery of persons from the water and that the Maritime Skills Academy have kindly agreed to be silver sponsors of the event. Click here to read more and secure your place.

Mersey Maritime Industry Awards 2022: The theme for the Mersey Maritime Industry Awards 2022 is ‘Our Time Is Now’, which will have a particular focus on Mersey Maritime’s 20-year anniversary, and look forward to the bright future of the sector.

Now in their eighth year, the awards will take place in the iconic and prestigious Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday 10 November 2022. Further details can be viewed here.

Free tickets for Chamber members – Seatrade Maritime Salvage & Wreck Conference: Save the date – with the tagline “Supporting A Sustainable Future” this conference (30 November - 1 December), is being held at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Tower of London.

Free tickets for UK Chamber of Shipping ship owners/managers/members. For more information please contact karen.attia@informa.com.

Enjoy your weekends,

Sarah