UK News

The figures produced by British Marine show a 1.7% growth in revenue, with the marine industry contributing more than £1.1bn of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy and supporting more than 33,000 direct employees.

Leisure marine exports in 2018 surpassed £1bn for the first time since 2013, an increase of 16% compared to 2017.

Half of the exports went to the Eurozone and wider EU, however the USA is a growing sector accounting for 25% of British exports, an increase of 30%. In addition, Asia has seen growth of 20% and South America 39%.

“These latest figures illustrate that the British boating sector has continued to prosper, despite challenging conditions and the ongoing uncertainty about Brexit,” said Lesley Robinson, BM CEO.

Continue reading “The British boating sector has grown for the seventh consecutive year”

Construction workers building the new London-Birmingham high-speed railway line have unearthed the grave of the Royal Navy sailor who gave Australia its name.

For 180 years the last resting place of explorer and navigator Captain Matthew Flinders has been lost among 40,000 other bodies in graves near Euston station. But archaeologists excavating St James’ burial ground to pave the way for the new HS2 terminus have identified the officer’s grave out of the thousands at the site. The lead depositum plate – breast plate – put on top of Flinders’ coffin when he was buried in July 1814 meant his remains could be formally identified.

As commanding officer of HMS Investigator, Flinders sailed from Portsmouth in Continue reading “HS2 construction workers find remains of first sailor to circumnavigate Australia”