The UK Chamber of Shipping is urging the government to come up with funding to keep vital supplies of food, medicines and other goods coming into the country.
Executives held talks with maritime minister Kelly Tolhurst on Tuesday to demand a multimillion-pound support package for the coronavirus-hit industry.
"The world is facing a monumental crisis. Shipping is the lifeblood of our nation and we must do what we can as an industry to keep our supply lines open for a strong and healthy UK," chamber chief executive Bob Sanguinetti said after the talks.
