Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to bring forward proposals to reform the UK Shipping Register.

In response to the Maritime Growth Study the Government has been taking action to put the UK Ship Register on a more commercial footing. Progress to put in place appropriate resource and infrastructure to commercialise the UKSR is already being demonstrated.

In January 2017 Michael Parker was appointed as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA’s) first Non-Executive Chairman. In addition, Doug Barrow has also been appointed as the Director for the UK Ship Register and will take up the post in April 2017. Both these appointments will play a leading role in shaping the future transformation of the UKSR and championing the UK Flag.

Simultaneously, the MCA is working on a number of reforms to improve the quality of its services as part of a wider commitment to generate growth in the maritime sector, encourage greater investment in the UK and promote the UK flag as a world-class register that attracts quality ship owners.

The Department for Transport will continue to work closely with the MCA, in particular the new Non-Executive Chairman and new Director of the UKSR as it explores options for future reforms of the UK Ship register.