UK: The Chamber of Shipping Welcomes New Shipping Minister

The Chamber of Shipping has welcomed the appointment of Stephen Hammond as the new Shipping Minister.

Mr Hammond’s appointment comes after a wide-ranging reshuffle of the Government ordered by the Prime Minister, which saw former Shipping Minister Patrick McLoughlin appointed Secretary of State for Transport.

The Chamber’s Director General, Mark Brownrigg said:

“The Chamber and its members warmly welcome Mr Hammond to his new brief – and we look forward to continuing the warm and productive relationship we have established with the Government since its election in 2010.

“Mr Hammond will no doubt understand that he enters office at a crucial time. Long term issues such as the retention of the tonnage tax and the continued fight against piracy will need constant attention – but elsewhere crucial issues, such as widespread concern as to the damaging impact of new sulphur regulations and the urgent ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention will require real leadership in difficult circumstances.

“The Chamber of Shipping, and its Maritime UK colleagues, will do all it can to help Mr Hammond settle into his new role, and meet the challenges ahead.”

Mr Brownrigg also offered warm words to the outgoing Shipping Minister, Mike Penning.

“Mr Penning understood that, in a difficult economy, the shipping sector can be a conduit for economic recovery, as the country seeks to trade its way to prosperity. It took enormous strength to abolish the subsidy for Irish lights, to retain SMaRT funding despite Government cuts and to help the UK maintain its world-leading role in counter-piracy. We’re grateful to him for his efforts and wish him well in his new brief.”

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Source: The Chamber of Shipping, September 11, 2012