Maritime and shipping statistics
Data and statistics about ports, shipping, sea passengers, waterborne freight and seafarers.
Maritime statistics interactive dashboard
Interactive maritime statistics dashboard - explore maritime trends further using interactive maps and visualisations via our dashboard. Covering UK major ports from the year 2000 onwards.
Port and domestic waterborne freight statistics
Port freight covers freight handled by all UK sea ports. Provisional figures are published quarterly, and final annual statistics are published in the summer.
Domestic waterborne freight are now included in the annual port freight release. These cover inland waters traffic, traffic carried around the UK coast, one-port traffic to and from offshore installations and sea dredging.
The statistics are based mainly on returns from port operators, shipping lines and agents, and an independent survey of inland waterway operators.
Number of passengers on vessels are available in the sea passenger data collection.
Port freight information on current and previous port freight and domestic waterborne freight statistics are available.
Sea passenger statistics
Statistics relating to international and domestic passenger traffic handled at UK ports. Data is published annually, except for international short sea (ferry) passenger totals which are updated monthly in table SPAS0107.
Passenger vehicle numbers are available in the port freight data collection. See data tables with a cargo breakdown for this information (for example, tables PORT0201 to PORT0203).
Sea passenger information on current and previous sea passenger statistics are available.
Shipping fleet statistics
Statistics are produced annually, based on data from two different sources, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) official UK Ship Register data and commercially procured world shipping fleet data.
Since they are obtained from a commercial source, the statistics are not considered to be accredited official statistics, but they are considered to be of good quality.
New - Monthly break down of the UK Ship Register statistics
As of the 26 February 2025, FLE0100 includes monthly breakdowns of the UK Ship register with leaving and joining vessels each month. Data goes back to 2015.
User feedback
In 2023, the department invited user feedback on the data tables available for shipping fleet statistics. The Department for Transport (DfT) received minimal responses with no objections to the changes proposed. Therefore, DfT will review the tables as proposed in the index, and changes will be reflected in the 2026 release due in February 2027.
Shipping fleet information on current and previous shipping fleet statistics are available.
Seafarer statistics
Annual statistics relating to the estimated number of UK seafarers, including some statistics on non-UK seafarers, qualified to serve on UK registered vessels. Statistics are updated annually and based on a combination of administrative sources and industry surveys.
Seafarer information on current and previous seafarer statistics are available.
About the maritime and shipping data and reports
Since the shipping fleet statistics are derived from a commercial source outside of the Department for Transport’s control, the statistics are not classed as accredited official statistics. The department’s view is that all statistics which are not designated as accredited official statistics are robust and have been produced to a suitable standard.
Related statistics
Statistics related to the maritime industry are published by other governmental organisations. Such as:
- Marine accident data is published by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)
- UK shipping industry revenue and expenditure from international shipping activities is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)