The UK shipping industry is set for a radical shake-up according to transport secretary Louise Haigh who pledged her allegiance to the sector in her first major maritime address.

“My pledge to you is this, I will place maritime at the heart of this government’s bold plans for change, and I will work with you day in and day out to set this industry up for success,” Haigh said during an impassioned speech at the Shipping UK event in London.