News

The UK Chamber of Shipping remains deeply concerned by ongoing disruption to commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, which continues to pose serious risks to seafarers and to the stability of global trade.

Last Updated 27 May 2026

In this Horizon Scan, we sit down with Robert Merrylees, Policy Director – Shipping Industry and Research at the UK Chamber of Shipping and Secretary to the British Tugowners’ Association (BTA), shortly after their 91st AGM, Conference & Dinner to explore how the towage sector is responding to a rapidly changing operating environment.

As Gold Sponsor of our Summer Lunch 2026, Port of Aberdeen is not only supporting the coming together of the industry but also shaping the conversation around its future. In this piece, Bob Sanguinetti DL, CEO of Port of Aberdeen, explores the opportunities for offshore wind as part of the UK’s green energy transition.

This week, our Safety Culture Conference 2026 brought together maritime leaders, regulators, insurers, training providers and safety specialists together in Glasgow for discussions and insight sharing under the theme of "Building a Culture that Learns and Lasts".

The British Tugowners' Association’s 91st AGM, Annual Conference and Gala Dinner brought the towage sector together in Liverpool on 6–7 May, setting a clear direction for the future of operations, safety and skills. With strong engagement from operators, associates and partners across the maritime landscape, the event focused on how the sector can strengthen practice, respond to emerging challenges and position itself for the opportunities ahead.

Our Policy Directors, Francesco Sandrelli and Katrina Ross, presented the UK Chamber's work on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and FuelEU Maritime at a Lloyd's Register industry briefing on 12 May. Bringing together industry and technical experts, the team examined the implementation emissions regulations and their implications for shipping, ahead of the UK ETS entry into force from 1 July 2026.

Our Policy Manager, Ferry & Cruise, Ilias Bafounis, recently participated in the second CLIA UK Cruise Tourism Summit, in Newcastle. This event brought together leaders from the cruise, tourism, port and destination sectors with government stakeholders, to foster dialogue on the future of cruise tourism in the UK. Hosted at the Port of Tyne and onboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral, the summit offered a valuable platform to showcase the sector’s growing impact for the UK economy and visitor landscape.

Introducing the Environment Round-Up, your quarterly review of key environment updates, events, and developments from the past three months at the UK Chamber.

England’s 2026 local election results point to a significant reshaping of the political landscape, with Reform UK emerging as a clear early winner, alongside losses for both Labour and the Conservatives across several councils and mayoral contests. While counting is still underway, with Scotland, Wales and many urban authorities set to declare this afternoon, the early picture suggests a clear trend, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage saying this morning, “the best is yet to come.”