Dingle: My reflections on the past three years leading Maritime UK

Since taking the chair of Maritime UK in September 2015, much has been achieved. Today, Maritime UK is a completely different organisation and community to the one that it was. And it now plays a transformative role in the maritime sector.

Then, Maritime UK was a more informal grouping of maritime bodies in the shipping, ports and maritime services industries, mainly focused on agreeing broadly joint policy positions.

Today, we are the sector’s umbrella organisation, with the engineering and leisure marine industries joining our ranks. We are also proud to include a trade union, charity partner and regional organisations amongst our number.

Now, we are running our own programmes and coordinating activity on behalf of the sector in wide-ranging areas. We are government’s primary interlocutor for the sector, and partner with Government departments to deliver activity in support of our joint objectives. More than talking, now, we do.

My overriding feeling when reflecting on the past three years is how exciting the period has been. There’s been a real energy around our National Council table, and tremendous support from members, companies and government. Everyone wins from greater collaboration; partners recognise that, and as a result put more effort into joint working.

With particular thanks to the Department for Transport, maritime issues are now more fully understood in government, and more than that, we are now more readily seen as a partner to realise government’s objectives. It has been a pleasure to work both with politicians from across the political spectrum and across government and with incredibly dedicated but often unrecognised officials. Our maritime sector is critical to the prosperity of our country, and we have made sure decision-makers recognise that. 

I am particularly pleased by the way in which individual companies have supported Maritime UK’s work. That companies see real value in engaging with Maritime UK is a really positive reflection on the progress we’ve made.

Particular personal highlights from the past three years include the first joint industry-government trade mission to Shanghai, where my company, Carnival, were able to provide one of Britain’s great icons icon, RMS Queen Mary 2, as a platform for the promotion of the UK’s world-leading maritime products, services and investment opportunities. London International Shipping Week 2017 was another, at the start of which it was a particular privilege jointly to chair the roundtable at Downing Street with the Transport and Trade secretaries. I am also especially proud of our Women in Maritime initiative, which not only begins to address the challenge of bringing into our industry and retaining many more females but has also shown our sector as enlightened and forward-thinking – in total contrast to our image but a few years ago.

I am proud too that the Maritime Ministerial Working Group is well-established with the support of our Secretary of State, providing a convening point for all ministers whose departments impact our sector.  Without this body we would have failed to drive the many cross-cutting issues which are typical in our industry.

And there will always be a place in my heart for the coastal regions of this country, especially Liverpool and Solent, where we have been so well hosted and have witnessed so much creative energy.

I wish to thank three people in particular.  Firstly my colleague, friend and previous Chairman, Lord Mountevans, for leading the Maritime Growth Study and for his wise counsel.  Secondly our Maritime Minister, Nusrat Ghani who has built on the excellent work of her predecessor John Hayes and has driven the profile and performance of our sector to new heights.  Thirdly, Ben Murray, the outstanding young Director of Maritime UK, without whom our achievements would have been far less.

Looking to the future, I have huge confidence that Harry and Sarah will take Maritime UK to another new and higher level. Their personal commitment to Maritime UK and its mission gives me great confidence that the future will be bright for our organisation and the shipping, ports, services, engineering and leisure marine industries it serves. Each brings unique insight and capability to their roles, ensuring Maritime UK can effectively promote its world-class offer across the world, and equally foster collaboration at home to ensure that the UK prospers as a location for maritime business and to deliver UK advantage in the technologies of tomorrow. I look forward to supporting and working with them both.

My advice to colleagues across the sector? There are huge opportunities for the UK, particularly in technological solutions to regulatory and environmental challenges, like the decarbonisation of shipping. And huge opportunities too in making the UK an even better place in which to conduct maritime business.  Let’s not miss those opportunities. I also urge everyone to continually question whether better results can be delivered through even better collaboration. Today industry is collaborating like never before, but collaboration should be the norm, not the exception. For our sector and country to succeed in the future, working together is critical.