The UK marine equipment industry makes an important contribution to the UK economy of some £850 million annually. It can provide a complete range of equipment and services for ships of all sizes and type. Moreover, significant measures have been taken jointly by the Government and the respective trade associations over the last three years to boost the competitiveness of the UK's shipbuilding and marine equipment industries.

     In addition, the industry as a whole, faced with difficult trading conditions, has made great efforts to improve its performance and productivity by the use of such aids as benchmarking, adopting best practice and introducing sector-related marketing courses and targeted marketing information, to name just a few. As a result, UK companies are now highly competitive in worldwide markets.