Select committee: Transport Committee
Conclusion 14
Fifth Report - Maritime 2050
Published 20 Mar 2023
Paragraph 90
Addressed to Department for Transport
Transport Committee Maritime 2050: objectives, implementation and effects All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
There is a fine balance that needs to be struck when it comes to regulating for smart shipping and autonomous vessels. It is important that innovation is able to flourish whilst ensuring that safety standards are maintained and that there is a measure of certainty to guide investment. Leadership and coordination—of the kind promised by the proposed Centre for Smart Shipping—are also crucial. There is a major commercial opportunity for UK innovators, who have been at the forefront of developing marine and maritime autonomy to date. This momentum must not be lost.
From: Transport Committee, Fifth Report - Maritime 2050 (HC 160), paragraph 90, 20 March 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 20 June 2023 (deadline 20 May 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with some of the Committee's recommendations, partially agrees with others, notes several, and disagrees with the one on the role of ports.
- On decarbonisation, the government agrees and says it "will publish the updated Clean Maritime Plan by the end of 2023", including indicative targets for the domestic maritime sector.
- On UK SHORE, it agrees but is "unable to commit to public long-term funding"; further investment beyond March 2025 "is dependent on future budget decisions".
- On maritime autonomy legislation, it partially agrees: reforms are necessary but "we cannot legislate for them during the current parliamentary session due to competing priorities". It says its response to the Future of Transport review will be published "in the coming weeks".
- It disagrees with the recommendation on the role of ports, stating that it "fully understand[s] the role of ports" and "continues to champion their cause across Government". On the seafarers' welfare charter, it "notes" the recommendation and says the charter will "initially launch on a voluntary basis".