Eighty-five percent of goods entering and leaving Britain are transported by sea, with the UK Chamber of Shipping reporting over 100,000 vessel calls at UK ports annually—approximately one every five minutes. The Suez Canal, a crucial maritime route stretching 120 miles and linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, significantly reduced travel time when it opened in 1869. However, geopolitical tensions have impacted traffic, leading to a decline of over 50% in 2024 compared to the previous year, prompting companies to reroute around Africa.
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm, set to feature 277 wind turbines off the northeast coast of England, will become the largest offshore wind farm globally, generating enough energy to power six million homes annually. Notably, renewable energy surpassed half of the UK’s total electricity generation for the first time in 2024.
Currently, over 600 submarine cables are either active or in planning stages, according to TeleGeography. These cables, essential for internet connectivity, transmit data across oceans using pulses of light. By 2030, scientists aim to complete a comprehensive map of the ocean floor, coinciding with the UK’s commitment to conserve at least 30% of global land and ocean areas by that year. However, a 2025 study revealed that only 8.3% of marine areas are protected, with just 2.8% classified as ‘fully’ or ‘highly’ protected.
