Michael Bibby new president of UK Chamber of Shipping

John Denholm, chairman of J&J Denholm and former Bimco president, was elected vice-president.

Bibby used his inaugural speech as president at the body’s agm to praise the Chamber’s ongoing work to raise the profile of shipping with Government and in the media, as well as its recent success with the SMarT Plus maritime training campaign, a joint proposal with Nautilus that became Government policy in February.

He also congratulated outgoing Chamber president Grahaeme Henderson for having launched new safety initiative HiLo – that aims to identify the high frequency but low-level incidents that are often precursors to major incidents.

On Brexit, the new president said the Chamber must work closely with the Government and international partners to find practical solutions to “avoid delays in our ports and unnecessary restrictions on the movement of our people or damaging restrictions on trade through quotas or taxes.”

“Brexit may however allow us to develop better policies for the UK going forward,’ he added, “and we need to be alert and brave to really represent the best interests of British shipping and promote great ideas to the Government.”