英国面临着失去海上服务领先优势的风险

英国面临着失去海上服务领先优势的风险

Britain’s position as a top hub for maritime services is being eroded by competition, a loss of shipping finance business and the removal of tycoon-friendly tax breaks, a report said, deepening uncertainty for its financial sector as Brexit nears.

一份报告称，随着英国退欧的临近，竞争、航运融资业务的亏损以及对大亨有利的减税措施的取消，正在侵蚀英国作为全球最大海事服务中心的地位。这加剧了英国金融业的不确定性。

The UK has been a pivotal global shipping center for centuries, especially the City of London, and has dominated marine insurance, ship broking, shipping finance and other maritime services.

几个世纪以来，英国一直是一个举足轻重的全球航运中心，尤其是伦敦金融城，并主导着海上保险、船舶经纪、航运金融和其他海事服务。

These contribute $5.6 billion a year to Britain’s economy, providing employment for more than 10,000 people in highly skilled jobs, according to a report by consultancy PwC, commissioned by trade association Maritime London.

普华永道(pwc)咨询公司委托伦敦海事贸易协会(trade association maritical london)发布的一份报告显示，这些企业每年为英国经济贡献56亿美元，为1万多从事高技能工作的人提供就业机会。

But a shift in global shipping trade to Asia and tougher competition are adding to pressures on this niche sector, the report said.

但报告称，全球航运贸易向亚洲转移以及竞争加剧，正加大这一利基行业的压力。

“We estimate that if the UK had maintained its market share over the last two years, this would have resulted in an additional $700 million p.a. (annually) in GVA (gross value added) for the UK economy,” said the report, published in partnership with the City of London Corporation.

这份与伦敦金融城合作发布的报告称:“我们估计，如果英国在过去两年保持其市场份额，这将为英国经济带来每年7亿美元的GVA(总增加值)。”

The global maritime services market is estimated to be worth $20 billion annually.

据估计，全球海事服务市场每年价值200亿美元。

“Significant ground has been lost to international competitors in recent years. Competitors such as the U.S., China, Norway and particularly Singapore, are all challenging in key areas of development and we must react,” said Harry Theochari, chair of the separate Maritime UK body.

“近年来，国际竞争对手已经失去了重要地位。美国、中国、挪威，特别是新加坡等竞争对手在发展的关键领域都面临挑战，我们必须做出反应，”英国独立海事机构主席哈里·西奥查理(harry theochari)表示。

The report, launched at the start of London International Shipping Week, comes as Britain spins toward an election. Brexit remains up in the air, more than three years after Britons voted to leave the European Union. Options range from a turbulent “no-deal” exit to abandoning the whole endeavor.

这份报告是在伦敦国际航运周(London International Shipping Week)开始之际发布的，而此时英国正面临大选。在英国人投票脱离欧盟三年多之后，英国退欧仍然悬而未决。选择的范围从混乱的“不交易”退出到放弃整个努力。

The report’s authors said their interviews with maritime services professionals “offered mixed views on the impact of Brexit on the UK’s perception as a politically stable country”.

该报告的作者说，他们对海事服务专业人士的采访“就英国脱欧对英国作为一个政治稳定国家的看法产生的影响提出了不同的看法”。

“Some pointed to opportunities to reduce regulation post-Brexit, while others expressed concerns about the availability of talent and the perception of the UK as ‘open for business’,” the report said.

报告说：“一些人指出了英国脱欧后减少监管的机会，另一些人则对人才的可获得性和英国‘对企业开放’的看法表示担忧。”

The exodus from shipping finance by many leading lenders including Britain’s Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) and Lloyds (LLOY.L) had affected London’s position as a money destination for international shipping firms, the report said.

报道称，包括英国皇家苏格兰银行(rbs.l)和劳埃德银行(lloyds.l)在内的许多主要放贷机构纷纷撤离航运融资，影响了伦敦作为国际航运公司资金目的地的地位。

Separately, Britain’s decision to scrap tax breaks for long-term residents who claim “non-domicile” status led to the departure of prominent Greek players from London in recent years.

另外，英国决定取消对声称“无住所”身份的长期居民的减税政策，导致近年来希腊知名人士离开伦敦。

“The UK needs to be more active in courting ship owners and other industry participants to come here,” the report said.

报告称:“英国需要更积极地吸引船东和其他行业参与者来英国。”

“It is also vital that post-Brexit, the UK remains open and welcoming to foreign talent.”

“同样重要的是，脱欧后，英国仍保持开放，欢迎外国人才。”

The report said the UK maintained 25% of the maritime services market. It recommended more efforts to bring dual listings to the London Stock Exchange to boost capital markets activity for shipping as well as taking a lead in developing environmental finance products, while providing tax incentives.

报告说，英国保持了25%的海运服务市场份额。它建议加大力度，在伦敦证交所实现双重上市，以推动资本市场航运活动，并率先开发环境金融产品，同时提供税收优惠。

“What’s critical is that we work to strengthen the core of ship owners and charterers in the UK, which will provide a significant boost to the UK economy,” Maritime UK’s Theochari said.

英国海事协会的Theochari说:“关键是我们要努力加强英国船东和承租人的核心力量，这将为英国经济带来重大提振。”