Recently appointed shipping minister Stephen Hammond has vowed to be the UK ports industry's champion against any "unwanted, unnecessary interference" from Europe.
Speaking at the UK Major Ports Group's annual reception, the minister was referring to comments by UKMPG chairman Charles Hammond, who used the occasion to highlight a number of issues impacting on the ports sector.
Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports, said: "We had thought that after two botched attempts to introduce regulation into the operation of port services, the European Commission had sensibly decided to leave well alone and concentrate on properly applying the general rules of EU Treaty to ports. It is surely unacceptable that subsidy regimes vary so widely that northern continental ports we compete with benefit from generous subsidy while UK ports do not.
"However, the Commission are known to be looking at port service regulation again despite a recent survey which showed that the vast majority of port users are well satisfied with the service they receive and are not seeking change.
"Our message to Brussels remains simple - concentrate on your existing role to ensure a level playing field and do not put productivity and investment at risk by introducing complicated and unnecessary new bureaucracy. We will resist and challenge any form of further interference and bureaucracy from Europe."
However, Stephen Hammond warned: "the EC hates anyone who wins. So having lost twice, they will come back again and again." He added: "any interference that is unwanted and unnecessary, you will find me as your champion."
After two months in post, the minister said it was clear to him that the ports and maritime sector should be far more highly valued by the UK for what I does.
"I am struck by the amount of wealth that this industry creates and the jobs it creates," he said. "Our economic future and prosperity depends on the vibrancy of your industry." He told guests: "Whoever occupies this role (shipping minister) should be an evangelist for this industry and what you do for the prosperity of UK plc."
Charles Hammond called on the government to adopt policies "which promote ports, not penalise them."
Planning and licensing decisions continue to take much longer than they should and the industry continues to face new regulation which discriminates against ports, including the Carbon Reduction Commitment, "an energy tax which particularly penalises ports and businesses on port estates."
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