The UK Chamber of Shipping, the trade association with nearly 200 members, has called for immediate support from the UK government to ensure freight continues to flow into the country.
UK Chamber Chief Executive Bob Sanguinetti said: “We have already seen a number of ferry companies reduce their services and send a large number of their staff home. Unless these companies get access to the government financial packages now, this is likely to be followed by further reduction of services, or indeed companies going out of business. We are being told that it is fast becoming cheaper to lay ships up than to keep them running at a loss. This will put at risk our vital supply and essential logistics lines – the life blood of this nation.
“As an island nation, we should be underwriting the future sustainability of our industry and its seafarers. The time to act is now.”
Notes:
50% of our food is imported and 95% of our trade is transported by ships.
Last year 99% of goods from non-EU countries were brought here on ships
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