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Shipping and Ports

A safe and thriving global shipping industry is vital to the UK economy. Our domestic shipping and ports activities and strong global maritime influence help to protect the UK's interest in this area by promoting a competitive, safe, efficient and sustainable environment for this trade to take place.

For information on Maritime Security, see the Transport Security index page.

For information on the transport of radioactive materials, see the Transport of radioactive materials index page.

• Introduction to shipping and ports policies
  Overview of departmental shipping and ports policies, plans and activities with supporting facts and other information.
• Consultation papers
  This section contains copies of current and closed consultations for this area of the Department's responsibility along with any associated partial Regulatory Impact Assessments.
• Final regulatory impact assessments
  A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is a tool which informs policy decisions. This section contains copies of final RIAs that have been placed in the Houses of Parliament libraries for this area of the Department's responsibility.
• Shipping
  This section provides information for the shipping industry on the environment and on safety. Additional information is provided specifically for the UK shipping industry.
• Ports
  This section contains documents relating to a national standard for port marine safety, decision letters and reports of public inquires, good practice advice for all trust ports in the UK and port environmental information pages.

• Email contacts 
  Published: 10 July 2003. Modified: 9 February 2006.

Related information on other websites:

• The Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency provides a 24 hour maritime search and rescue service, the inspection and enforcement of standards for ships, the registration of ships and seafarers, and pollution prevention and response.
• International Maritime Organization
• Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)