Outlining the important role LISW plays in raising awareness about the depth and breadth of the maritime sector, Princess Anne said: "The digital world is an interesting one and it's quite 'press button'. Somehow we've got to get across to those online shoppers that it doesn't arrive from so far through the ether - it has to find slightly more prosaic ways of getting there."

"You represent the vast majority of the method by which they receive the things that they press the button for," she told attendees, adding that LISW plays a "really important part of understanding where our investments need to go."

A great supporter of the maritime sector, seafarers and the Royal Navy, Princess Anne said: "As an island we definitely need to understand the critical value of the sea to us and, as an island nation how to deal with it, and what it means to us in a much wider capacity."

She advised: "If we want our trade to travel at sea, then the people who do that and the ships that they're in, need to be as good as they can, so the people that back them up, the skills that they need, and the innovations that need to go with that to develop safer ways of transporting our goods by sea will remain a key to all of your interests."

The reception at Banqueting House formally welcomed the many industry leaders and overseas ambassadors to London for this premier shipping industry event, which features 200 meetings, seminars, conferences and round tables.

Speeches were also given by the UK's Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Maritime Nusrat Ghani, the LISW board of advisors' chair Lord Mountevans, and Maritime UK chair Harry Theochari.

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