This week the Chamber has been attending the Conservative Conference in Birmingham, following last week’s Labour Conference. The Chamber again was proactive in engaging key stakeholders and politicians, and driving conversations around the wider shipping agenda, ensuring the views of our members remain firmly at the forefront of policy and decision-making.

Elsewhere, our President Graham Westgarth has been speaking to members in a Q&A, session and we have welcomed a new addition to the Chamber team.

Conservative Party Conference

This week the Chamber was at Conservative Party Conference attending a range of events on transport, net zero and boosting UK trade. The Chamber also attended a dinner with the Secretary of State for Transport, and Nus Ghani MP who is now a business minister.

The dinner was a chance to press home to both the Secretary of State and Ms Ghani the importance of ensuring we have ambitious international targets for decarbonisation alongside integrated infrastructure at ports. Dinner attendees also discussed the importance of ensuring the sector had the skills it needs and the recently announced investment zones.  The Secretary of State has asked for further information from the Chamber on decarbonisation and we have sent her a short briefing.

Any member wishing to discuss the Conservative Party Conference in more detail should contact the Chamber’s communications director Tom Bartošák-Harlow.
 

Welcome to Antonella Barletta

Antonella joins the Chamber team this week as our new Digital Communications Manager. Antonella will be responsible for improving the Chamber’s online presence, including key Chamber publications the Daily Briefing and Weekly Bulletin. Antonella has joined us from the digital team in the Houses of Parliament and I’m delighted to have her as part of the team.

Chamber President holds Q&A session with members

Earlier this week Chamber President Graham Westgarth held a Q&A session with members to discuss the Chamber’s ongoing work and priorities.

Topics discussed included decarbonisation, safety, the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on shipping and seafarers, the planned upgrade to the Chamber’s website and the engagement plans for the new Secretary of State for Transport. Graham also took a chance to reflect on the Chamber’s successful Safety Culture Conference held last month and updated members on the Chamber’s ongoing strategy review process.

Thank you to all the members who took part and further information on future similar events will be shared in due course.

To find out about current Chamber events please click here.

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:

• IMO Submission on Treated Sewage and Grey Water in Ballast Water Tanks Guidelines – ICS Invitation for Co-Sponsorship
• Employment Committee 11 October 2022: Agenda and Notes
• Employment Committee 11 October 2022: EMP/22-15 Annex A

Upcoming events

INVITATION: Satellite-enabled growth in the transport sector, with Transport Minister Baroness Vere. You are invited to an online event exploring how the UK are using satellite technology to modernise our transport system, DfT’s role in commercial spaceflight, and why sovereign launch capabilities matter to the UK, and the transport sector specifically. We will be joined by Aviation and Local Transport Minister Baroness Vere, who will introduce the session.

You will hear from the Satellite Applications Catapult about how satellite technology can deliver smart transport solutions, and from DfT’s Commercial Spaceflight Lead on the department’s role in the UK’s space programme. We will update you on any additional speakers.

The event runs from 10.00 – 11.15 on Wednesday 12th October. To attend please register here.

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.

Have a lovely weekend,
Peter