Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of short sea shipping in the UK.

We fully support the development of short sea shipping in the UK and recognise the benefits increased uptake could provide as a means of freight transportation.

To better understand the markets for coastal shipping and inland waterways we have commissioned a study to explore the opportunities, barriers and the potential for mode shift from inland transport networks.

Furthermore, the Department’s forthcoming strategy – Maritime 2050 – recognises the role of short sea shipping and, more widely, sets out how the UK can remain a key competitive maritime nation through meeting the challenges of the future and taking advantage of the opportunities that arise, include those in freight transport.