SEAFARERS AWARENESS WEEK 2018

That this House welcomes Seafarers Awareness Week 2018, 23 to 30 June 2018, and its theme of UK maritime employment opportunities; recognises the socio­economic and strategic value of the UK's traditional role as a centre of maritime employment, training and skills; further welcomes the 18 per cent growth in the UK Ship Register over the last three years; notes that shipping companies have enjoyed tax concessions worth £1.87 billion since the introduction of the Tonnage Tax; further notes that the total number of seafarer jobs on vessels owned by UK Chamber of Shipping member companies has increased by over 26,100 since 2013; regrets that UK seafarers accounted for under nine per cent of that growth in maritime employment; notes that UK seafarers are ageing, with over 70 per cent of deck, engine and general purpose ratings more than 40 years old; supports the RMT trades union's call for employment, taxation, equality and immigration law reforms to increase maritime training and employment opportunities for UK seafarers which would replenish the national maritime skills base; and calls on the Government to enact such reforms as soon as possible.