As Brexit is coming closer and the international maritime sector seems to be affected, Maersk makes its own Brexit. Maersk’s decision follows other companies, as P&O Ferries, that announced, on December 2018, it will re-flag two of its vessels to keep European Union tax arrangements ahead Brexit. Additionally, Stena and Stolt-Nielsen also informed that they are reviewing their UK-registered ships ahead of Brexit.
According to Nautilus’ General Secretary, Mark Dickinson, Maersk will be taking their remaining vessels off the UK Ship Register.
Therefore, the company decided it will be exiting the UK Tonnage Tax.
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Moreover, amongst Maersk’s decision is to end the training of UK cadets.
In general, after the Brexit announcement, from November 2018 there were 1,306 vessels of over 500 GT (gross tonnage) per ship registered with the British flag, down from 1,317 in 2017, 1,328 in 2016, 1,330 in 2015 and 1,327 in 2014.
The possibility of a ‘no deal Brexit’ arises, since earlier in January, Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal had been rejected by 230 votes. This is the largest defeat for a government in history. Namely, MPs voted by 432 votes to 202 to reject the deal, which describes how the UK willl exit from the EU on 29 March.
In addition, ECSA noted that without a deal the consequences on the fluidity of trade between the EU and UK will be huge, as they will affect shipowners, logistics partners, passengers and consumers.
Concluding, ECSA added that if the withdrawal agreement is voted through, the implementation period will give the UK and EU time to prepare and there will finally be the needed certainty for shipping operators to prepare, in order to ensure a frictionless trade.
