UK’s economic stability starts at sea, says the CEO of the Chamber of Shipping

Mace | 28th April 2026 | Comment, Policy & Think Tanks, Politics
Rhett Hatcher

Shipping moves 95 per cent of the UK’s trade. Most of the time, this happens smoothly until there is a global crisis, writes Rhett Hatcher, CEO of the Chamber of Shipping

In moments of regional (the Gulf) or global (COVID) crisis, shipping becomes visible in a way the country rarely notices. Supply chains tighten, routes come under pressure, and the system that powers the economy moves rapidly from the background to the centre of national attention. That is where we find ourselves now. Conflict in the Gulf and the impact of this on the Strait of Hormuz show how quickly a regional issue results in a domestic one for the UK. This is one of the most important arteries of world trade. When it comes under pressure, vessels are delayed, energy shipments face uncertainty, and the UK’s economic rhythm is disrupted almost immediately. What is often treated as distant geopolitical risk suddenly becomes a direct challenge to national economic stability. Seafarers feel this strain long before anyone else. They keep goods moving through areas of heightened risk while facing increased threat levels, longer rotations at sea and greater uncertainty about what lies ahea...

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