{{Short description|UK trade association}} {{Redirect|Chamber of Shipping|the international body|International Chamber of Shipping}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox organization | name = UK Chamber of Shipping | full_name = | logo = | formation = {{start date and age |1878}} | merger = Shipping Federation | type = Trade association | status = | purpose = Lobbying organisation of the UK shipping industry | location = London, United Kingdom | region_served = United Kingdom | membership = 200 companies | num_members_year = 2024 | leader_title = President | leader_name = JB Rae-Smith | key_people = | affiliations = | website = {{URL|https://ukchamberofshipping.com/}} | remarks = }}
The '''UK Chamber of Shipping''' is the British trade association and lobbying body for the UK shipping industry, representing around 200 member companies. It works with government, Parliament, international organisations, and other maritime stakeholders to promote and protect the interests of its members.
The organisation is one of the principal members of the International Chamber of Shipping.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/about-us/our-mission/ |title=UK Chamber of Shipping – About |access-date=3 July 2016}}</ref> Their headquarters are in Park Street, London.
The body is also responsible for working with the UK government, Maritime UK and Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
==History== The chamber has its origins in 1878 when a national trade body for shipping was formed. The chamber was granted a royal charter in 1920 and went through several names. It merged with the Shipping Federation in 1975 and being known as the General Council of British Shipping until 1992 when its current name was adopted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/chamber-of-shipping/british-shipping2|title=Politics.co.uk – British Chamber of Shipping|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=28 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528121831/http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/chamber-of-shipping/british-shipping2|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Sarah Treseder, a former Chief Executive of the Royal Yachting Association served as chief executive of the chamber between 2021 and 2024, having replaced Bob Sanguinetti.<ref name="Sailweb">{{cite web|url=https://www.sailweb.co.uk/2021/07/01/rya-chief-executive-sarah-treseder-moving-on/ |title=RYA Chief Executive Sarah Treseder moving on |publisher=SailWeb |access-date=9 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="Tradewinds">{{cite web|url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/regulation/uk-chamber-of-shipping-hires-yachting-boss-as-chief-executive/2-1-1033188 |title=UK Chamber of Shipping hires yachting boss as chief executive |publisher=Tradewinds |access-date=9 April 2024}}</ref> In April 2024, Rear Admiral Rhett Hatcher, former UK national hydrographer and deputy chief executive at the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office became chief executive.<ref name="Splash2024">{{cite web|url=https://splash247.com/uk-chamber-of-shipping-names-new-chief-executive/#:~:text=The%20UK%20Chamber%20of%20Shipping,retired%20from%20the%20Royal%20Navy. |title=UK Chamber of Shipping names new chief executive |publisher=Splash 247 |access-date=9 April 2024}}</ref>
==Presidents== * 1881: Edward Stock Hill<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Obituary |date=18 December 1902 |page=3 |issue=36954}}</ref> * 1899: Honourable James Cleland Burns, Cunard Line (later Baron Inverclyde)<ref name=TT15021900 /> * 1900: William James Pirrie, Chairman of Harland & Wolff (later Viscount Pirrie)<ref name=TT15021900>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Chamber of Shipping|date=15 February 1900 |page=8 |issue=36066}}</ref> * 1902: Colonel Sir Robert Ropner, Ropner Shipping Company<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Shipping Subsidies|date=24 October 1902 |page=3 |issue=36907}}</ref> * 1903: Sir James Mackay, P&O (later Earl of Inchape)<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Chamber of Shipping|date=21 February 1903 |page=8 |issue=37010}}</ref> * 2013: Helen Deeble.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interferry.com/deeble-elected-president-of-chamber-of-shipping/?|title=Interferry – Deeble elected President of the UK CofS|access-date=3 July 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * 2014: Kenneth MacLeod, Chairman of the British division of Stena Line<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorship.com/news101/industry-news/new-president-for-uk-chamber-of-shipping|title=Motorship – New President for the CofS, 2013|access-date=3 July 2016}}</ref> * 2016: Grahaeme Henderson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/latest/grahaeme-henderson-becomes-uk-chamber-shipping-president/|title=Chamber of Shipping – Dr Grahaeme Henderson – President|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206115455/https://ukchamberofshipping.com/latest/grahaeme-henderson-becomes-uk-chamber-shipping-president/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2018: Sir Michael Bibby * 2020: John Denholm<ref name="a135">{{cite web | last=Ajdin | first=Adis | title=Westgarth takes over from Denholm at UK Chamber of Shipping | website=Splash247 | date=2022-04-01 | url=https://splash247.com/westgarth-takes-over-from-denholm-at-uk-chamber-of-shipping/ | access-date=2025-10-27}}</ref> * 2022: Graham Westgarth<ref name="a135"/> * 2024: JB Rae-Smith<ref name="d683">{{cite web | last=Corbett | first=Adam | title=JB Rae-Smith named UK Chamber of Shipping president | website=tradewindsnews.com | date=2024-02-14 | url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/regulation/jb-rae-smith-named-uk-chamber-of-shipping-president/2-1-1598676?zephr_sso_ott=UjUYOo | access-date=2025-10-27}}</ref>
==Work== The Merchant Navy Training Board is based at the UK Chamber's offices in London.<ref name="u322">{{cite web | title=About Us | website=Merchant Navy Training Board / MNTB | date=2024-11-21 | url=https://www.mntb.org.uk/about-us/ | access-date=2025-10-27}}</ref>
The UK Chamber of Shipping publishes guidance and publications for ships with Witherby Publishing Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukchamberofshipping.com/publications/ |title=Chamber of Shipping and Witherby |access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref>
The UK Chamber of Shipping hosts an annual maritime gala dinner at the JW Marriott Grosvenor Hotel in London.<ref name="k068">{{cite web | title=UK Chamber of Shipping Annual Dinner raises £5k for charity | website=UK Chamber of Shipping | url=https://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/news/uk-chamber-shipping-annual-dinner-raises-ps5k-charity | access-date=2025-10-27}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://mrc.epexio.com/records/COS Catalogue of the Chamber of Shipping archives], held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick * {{PM20|FID=co/053267|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=}}
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Category:British Merchant Navy Category:Organisations based in the London Borough of Southwark Category:Shipping trade associations