MARTIN Watson, who takes over as president of the Chamber of Shipping next Wednesday, may seem an odd choice, given his legal rather than shipping background.
But the Watson, Farley & Williams partner could be just the person Britain’s maritime industry needs as various associations prevaricate over whether to form an umbrella organisation to speak up on behalf of shipping.
One Voice is the provisional title given to the project that has been in the works for more than a year. But right now there are a lot of voices in the background.
A huge amount of effort has gone into the initiative that would see the Chamber of Shipping, Baltic Exchange, UK Major Ports Group, British Ports Association, Maritime London, Freight Transport Association and Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel Association combining their lobbying power in an effort to raise the shipping industry’s profile and present a united front. A chairman-designate has been selected, but he is waiting until funding issues have been resolved, with a certain amount of stalling over money even though the sums involved are modest.
More worryingly, some of those ostensibly backing the idea appear to be having second thoughts, perhaps concerned that their individual organisations could be absorbed into a larger trade body.
But UK shipping needs an industry champion to lobby effectively on behalf of all on environmental, infrastructure, taxation and other issues of mutual concern.
This is not the time for turf wars. What is needed is unequivocal support for a bold and imaginative venture.
That’s where a semi-outsider like Mr Watson may be useful in knocking heads together.
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