News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 03 September 2010
The Red Ensign
will fly over the headquarters of the Department for Transport
today to mark the UK's eleventh Merchant Navy Day.
Shipping Minister Mike Penning said:
"During the Second World War, the Merchant Navy did a
difficult job well, keeping the country supplied with the means to
survive. More than 20,000 merchant seafarers lost their lives in
that conflict alone. Today gives us the opportunity to pay tribute
to them, and to the other men and women of the Merchant Navy who
have lost their lives over the years.
"The UK is an island nation with a long maritime
tradition, and we continue to rely on shipping for most of our
foreign trade. As well as remembering the brave merchant seafarers
of the past, Merchant Navy Day also recognises those who work in
shipping today.
"The British shipping industry is currently enjoying a
revival. The UK shipping register has increased in both numbers of
ships and tonnage, while maintaining very high standards, and the
numbers of young people choosing the Merchant Navy as a career
have also generally increased. We can never be complacent, but the
UK maritime sector enjoys an excellent reputation, which I hope
will help it go from strength to strength."
Notes to Editors
Notes to Editors
1. The Red Ensign will today fly over the headquarters of the
Department for Transport - Great Minster House in Marsham Street,
London SW1.
2. Merchant Navy Day has been held on 3 September each year since
2000. It honours the merchant seafarers of the past, and also
looks forward to a bright future for British shipping.
3. Since 2004 the UK registered fleet of sizeable trading vessels
(500 gross tons and over) has increased from 10,099,000 to
16,863,000 gross tons, an increase of 66.98 per cent.
4. The increase in tonnage on the UK shipping register has been
achieved without compromising quality standards. The Maritime
& Coastguard Agency (MCA) have appointed dedicated
Customer Account Managers to assist with enquiries throughout the
registration process. This – and removing excess regulation – has
made the UK flag more attractive.
5. The tonnage tax was introduced in the Finance Act 2000.
Shipping companies can opt into tonnage tax, or stay in the
current corporate tax regime. Tonnage tax applies normal
corporation tax to notional profits determined by the tonnage of
the ships operated. It brings certainty and clarity about tax
liabilities and is used by a number of other EEA countries,
including Germany, the Netherlands, Greece and Norway. The tonnage
tax is enabling British shipping to be more internationally competitive.
6. A feature of the UK tonnage tax is the minimum training
obligation. This normally requires each shipping company in the
tax to recruit and train one officer trainee each year for every
15 officer posts in its fleet, and to give consideration to
employment and training opportunities for ratings.
7. The Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme has been
running since April 1998 and provides financial support for
courses approved by the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) and
the MCA for the training of officers and ratings.
8. The number of new cadets beginning seafarer training and
claiming SMarT:
2009/10 was 702 trainees
2008/09 was 961 trainees
2007/08
was 854 trainees
2006/07 was 658 trainees
2005/06 was 562
trainees
2004/05 was 571 trainee
2003/04 was 621 trainees
9. Sea Vision UK is the public awareness campaign to promote the
UK’s wider maritime sector to the general public. It was launched
to the maritime sector at the Chamber of Shipping in October 2002
and this was followed by a public launch at the London Boat Show
on 2 January 2003. The campaign aims to revitalize interest and
understanding of the importance of the sea and the maritime sector
and specifically to target awareness among the young.
Contacts:
DfT Press Office - Marine and Aviation
Phone: 020 7944
3118
Mobile: 020 7944 4292
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk