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UK National Audit Office publications

Work in Progress: Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Handling Growth in the UK Merchant Fleet

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for assuring the safety, security and environmental standards of UK registered vessels and other vessels while in UK waters.

In 2000, as part of a programme to support the UK maritime sector, the government allowed owners of vessels controlled from the UK to opt for taxation on the basis of tonnage, rather than paying corporation tax on the profit from a vessel’s activities. The gross tonnage of the UK registered merchant fleet – excluding fishing vessels - has grown from 5.2 million gross tonnes in 1999 (representing 1,035 vessels) to 12.8 million tonnes in 2006 (1,456 vessels).

Our study will examine the extent to which the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has responded effectively to the challenges of this growth in the UK registered merchant fleet. Our evaluation is likely to cover:

• whether the Agency is making effective and efficient use of resources to service an expanding UK Ship Register
• whether the Agency has managed to maintain and improve the safety and environmental performance of the growing UK merchant fleet without compromising its efforts in other areas
• whether the Agency has acted effectively to support growth in the UK merchant fleet and capture the economic benefits

Publication Schedule

We intend to publish our report in late 2008.

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Media contacts: Phil Groves
Press Office
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