[MrsPeaches]

The UK is actually doing something(ish) about it now.

Innovate UK (the UK’s public innovation funding) recently had a bid out for maritime R&D but with a focus on clean tech:

https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/clean-mari...

Obviously, this is not going to make up for the loss of the broader ship building industry, but it does show that the UK is thinking about maritime technology as a key strategic area.

[pjc50]

In my most cynical moments I think if the UK actually wants to build ships the best thing to do might be to close down the existing shipbuilding industry first, and start a newer more efficient one from scratch.

Per Ferguson Marine, do you want to prop up a dying industry or achieve usable ships? What's the actual priority?

[dgroshev]

To add to that, we just won a £10bn contract to build Type 26 anti-sub frigates for Norway https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr5rgdpvn63o