The Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) has welcomed the publication of the UK National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, at an event on Merseyside.
SMI CEO Tom Chant (pictured) said: ” The Society of Maritime Industries has played a key role in the development of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and will continue to be a full partner in its evolution. Safeguarding the UK sovereign shipbuilding capability for complex naval vessels by strengthening the wider commercial maritime industry through this raft of new initiatives is a very important step. The importance of this capability is underlined by tragic events in Ukraine which demonstrate Britain requires the resilience to be able to defend itself as an island nation as well as support our allies around the globe.
“This much anticipated release firmly supports the development of the UK’s shipbuilding enterprise. Our members have consistently told us industry requires confidence. With confidence businesses can invest for the long term, ramping up productivity and apprenticeship programmes. The Government’s firm commitment to a 30 year shipbuilding pipeline shows it is listening and we further welcome the increased emphasis on the social value of shipbuilding. This is a huge step forward which, consistently applied, will help to prevent UK shipbuilding opportunities go abroad.
“We look forward to working with the National Shipbuilding Office, providing challenge on behalf of industry where necessary, to drive forward the strategy’s recommendations and to help create a globally successful, innovative and sustainable UK shipbuilding enterprise.”
First published in 2017, the National Shipbuilding Strategy outlined ambitions to transform naval procurement. The refresh outlines the Government’s further ambitions to reinvigorate the British shipbuilding industry contributing to its levelling up mission to boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards.
Designed in partnership with industry and delivered by the recently formed National Shipbuilding Office (NSO), the NSbS Refresh will deliver a pipeline of more than 150 new naval and civil vessels for the UK Government and Devolved Administrations over the next 30 years. The vessels will include large warships, Border Force cutters, lighthouse vessels and the new National Flagship.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Shipbuilding has been in our blood for centuries and I want to ensure it remains at the heart of British industry of generations to come. The National Shipbuilding Strategy will transform this important and crucial industry, driving technology development and upskilling the shipbuilders of tomorrow. This will ensure the UK is rightly seen as a shipbuilding power across the world.”
The strategy includes more than £200m funding for green maritime projects through a new UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions. The NSS also re-introduces the Home Shipbuilding Guarantee Scheme (HSGS), giving firms a government-backed guarantee for loan repayments to reduce financing costs. The shipbuilding industry currently supports 42,600 jobs across the UK and contributed £2.8bn to the economy in 2020.
