Reform pledge on UK ships register

The international shipping industry warned early this year that the way the UK shipping register was administered needed urgent reform or the Red Ensign would die.

Data emerged at that time showing that the number of ships flying the UK flag had fallen by a third in the last five years.

Now the industry has responded with a report identifying what needs to change, with a clear message that “the status quo is not an option” if the UK flag is to remain an influential global maritime player.

The report was written by an independent panel of shipping industry leaders at the request of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency – an executive agency sponsored by the UK’s department for transport.

Amongst a large number of other recommendations, it calls for a new public corporation to administer the UK ship register and promote the UK as a place to do maritime business around the world.

And several international containership operators are considering placing more ships under the UK flag after these plans to revamp the Red Ensign were unveiled early last week.

CMA CGM and Evergreen Marine, which already operate British-registered ships, have now joined Italian shipping company, Grimaldi (See FTWO Sep 11) - with all saying they may expand their UK fleets.