Coronavirus: Coastal areas demand £1bn ‘kick-start’

In a letter to the chancellor, they say the money could create almost 74,000 jobs by developing zero-emission ships and offshore wind farms.

This would help “economically at-risk” communities, they add.

The government said it was supporting “millions of firms” through the pandemic and “continuing to innovate”.

In his speech to the virtual Conservative Party conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to make the UK a “world leader” in green energy.

He announced £160m of investment in ports and factories to increase electricity generation from offshore wind.

But the trade group Maritime UK, which coordinated the letter, is calling for a “more ambitious” approach when Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils his Comprehensive Spending Review later this year.

Ships could be developed that are powered by hydrogen, ammonia or biofuels, it is argued.

The letter says a £1bn investment in decarbonising the UK’s sea transport sector would directly create 15,200 jobs and add a further 58,400 in the supply chain.

It warns: “But without investment, this opportunity will be missed, and the UK will risk losing its position as a world leader in maritime.

“Many other countries around the world are already acting to support the decarbonisation of their maritime industries, and the UK government must do the same.”