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By:-    Richard Everitt

UKMPG Reception

  • The Marine and Coastal Access Act is a model example of Government industry and NGO’s working together to develop this long awaited piece of legislation.  At UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG) we are pleased to have played a part in that process. 
  • Developing a Bill of this complexity and steering it through to the Royal Assent is a major achievement, but an even greater task lies ahead in terms of implementing the many provisions in the Act.  As an organisation, we look forward to working with DEFRA and the Marine Management Organisation on the challenges that lie ahead.
  • Indeed, as a result of the Act the relationship between Ports and DEFRA will take on a new dimension.  As sponsoring Department for the MMO DEFRA will take on responsibility for Harbour Empowerment Orders and Harbour Revision Orders which are vitally important to the future growth of the Ports sector. 
  • We have one plea and that is that adequate resources are in place to ensure that these Orders are progressed effectively and efficiently. 
  • The new Act has been built on the principle of sustainable development.  The Ports in the UK are a prime example of sustainability in action.  Their economic importance was confirmed by the Eddington Report as key gateways in the UK’s logistics infrastructure.  Over 500m tonnes of freight are handled annually at these ports (more than any other EU country) and 23 million passengers pass through them.  The draft National Ports Policy statement published last week reinforces the strategic importance of ports to the UK economy and forecasts long term growth.  At last the NPS sets a National framework against which development proposals will be determined. 
  • As an industry, we believe that it is vital that the Infrastructure Planning Commission is now given an opportunity to work and determine applications against National policies which have been democratically endorsed by Parliament. 
  • The social implications of ports is amply demonstrated by the study that we commissioned from Oxford Economics earlier this year.  This showed that around 360,000 jobs are directly or indirectly linked to ports – nearly 1.5% of the UK’s total work force. 
  • On the environment, ports operate successfully in some of the most environmentally sensitive locations in the UK.  Where else would you regularly see a very large crude carrier (tanker) discharging its cargo of crude oil with internationally important and protected wild life sites located either side of the berth and also on the opposite shore.  The member ports of the UKMPG have invested heavily in developing our environmental management skills.  Working with Natural England and the Environment Agency, we believe we are leading Europe on the vitally important issue of maintenance dredging.  For example, a national protocol on maintenance dredging has been drawn up and implemented as a pathway to securing compliance with the habitats directive. 
  • For all of us, climate change and carbon reduction is a very high priority.  Water transport is a third more efficient than rail and four times more efficient than road in terms of climate gases used per tonne kilometre according to a recent German study.  It is for this reason that the UKMPG has been consistently advocating the potential benefits of coastal shipping as a contributor to the UK meeting its carbon reduction targets.  We are very pleased that the Department for Transport has now commenced a study in to this area and are engaging with  major logistics companies to encourage opportunities for new services to be realised. 
  • The Climate Change Act is another example of the UK taking a leading position.  As ports who are major businesses, we make one simple plea; that is that under the carbon reduction commitment system we should not be made responsible and financially accountable for activities of tenants which we have no ability to control.
  • This has been a very tough year for the shipping industry and ports and we  believe that  next year could be equally challenging.  It is highly regrettable that limited progress has been made on the ports rates issue and particularly, the backdating of liabilities.  The injustices felt by this backdating are deeply felt.  In the short term, damage is done to jobs, particularly in small businesses – in the longer term, future investment is undermined as international companies see the UK as an unattractive place to do business.  For these companies, their capital is geographically mobile and they will place that capital where they can get the best returns with maximum certainty.  It is puzzling as to why the Government have a blind spot on this issue with 2.5 million people unemployed. 
  • Light dues is another cost imposition at a time when the whole shipping industry is facing the severest downturn for many years.  The study that has been commissioned by the Department from Atkins into the costs of the Lighthouse Authorities is timely and welcome.  We would urge the Government to delay any further increases in light dues until that study has reported and proper consideration has been given to its findings and recommendations. 
  • This year has seen the launch of the revised Port Marine Safety Code.  This is another good example of Government, regulators (in this case the Maritime and Coastguard Agency) and industry working together.  As members of the UKMPG, we recognise the importance of our role in complying with the Code and developing the Guide to Good Practice which supports the provisions of the Code.  Much work now has to be done on this Guide to make sure it is kept fully up to date ; we will commit the resources necessary to ensure this happens  and the Code’s  provisions are adopted in our member ports. 
  • As I have said this has been the toughest year economically that most of us have known.  However, it has been a year in which much has been achieved in the areas of  planning, environment and safety  and in getting coastal shipping on to the national policy agenda.  Notwithstanding the tough economic times, there is much to be done in the year ahead with the implementation of the Marine and Coastal Access Act, the revised Port Marine Safety Code and the Climate Change Act.  As an organisation and as a founder member of the newly formed Maritime UK grouping of the country’s leading maritime interests, we look forward to working with our partners – and with whichever administration wins the forthcoming election - in taking this challenging agenda forward.