About us

Sea and Water is an independent, industry-led promotional organization established in 2003. We are supported financially by the Department for Transport and the UK water-freight industry through supporter subscriptions and occasional sponsorship. Although we enjoy some government funding we operate at arm’s length and have complete freedom to criticize government as required.

We are governed by a board of directors representing a number of industry sectors and we operate through two committees representing a wide range of sector interests within shortsea, coastal and inland shipping. Day-to-day business is handled by a small full-time executive.

Who are our supporters?

Uniquely, Sea and Water brings together the entire UK water-freight industry. Our effectiveness is governed by the breadth of our membership which currently includes:

barge operators, brokers, business schools, consultants, insurers, lawyers, navigation authorities, pilots, port authorities, shippers and receivers, ship operators, shipbuilders and repairers, terminal operators, trade associations, trade unions, tug operators, waste managers and wharf operators.

What do we do?

We promote water as a commercially and environmentally-sustainable mode of transport for freight in the UK . Our primary objective is to achieve a modal shift: that is, move more freight off the roads and onto the water.

• Promotion Logistics professionals need to know about the opportunity that water provides. Sea and Water provides a range of platforms to bring together these groups with those who deliver water-freight services to encourage better understanding.
• Sea and Water initiatives include
• An ongoing events programme, including an annual conference.
• Research
• Carrying out detailed analysis and publishing policy documents and bespoke publications.
• A developing programme of direct contact with potential customers to spell out the benefits water freight could bring to their logistics chain.
• Policy. Maximising the use of water freight requires a supportive European and UK policy framework. Sea and Water acts independently of Government, and so is able to influence European, UK and Devolved Government policy in relevant areas.

Our lobbying activity is underpinned by campaigning materials such as the Case for Water, launched in 2006.

Advice and support. Being a supporter of Sea and Water brings many benefits.

We need your support

We are actively looking to expand our supporter base to all those who recognize the benefits of water freight. This includes logistics professionals, developers and builders, planners, retailers, waste managers, opinion formers and influencers.

This will build on the foundation of a body of supporters from a broad spectrum of the UK ’s maritime industry. These supporters provide us with the gravitas that we need to ensure that our voice is heard when influencing policy.

How do I become a Sea and Water Supporter?

We offer an annual subscription. To become a Supporter please download this form.

Additional benefits of being a Supporter

1. Sea and Water events provide platforms for you to communicate to our network of business and government contacts about your service.
2. The Sea and Water in-house communications team ensures that public relations opportunities for examples of modal shift onto water involving our supporters are maximized through press notices and the production of relevant case studies.
3. Information about policy issues is supplied via the Sea and water website www.seaandwater.org , and Sea and Water give you a voice in policy development at the UK and European levels.
4. Subsidised use of the corporate facilities at Sea and Water’s headquarters at the Queen Anne’s Business Centre (by prior arrangement) which are centrally-located office in the vicinity of the UK Parliament.

By becoming a Sea and Water Supporter you are supporting the greening of the supply chain, for the benefit of society and the environment.