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34


ScOTLANd


Whisky and waste paper are helping to boost business at Peel Ports-owned Clydeport, Scotland’s principal west coast gateway. A new route operated by MSC to Le Havre introduced in the summer has boosted container volume at Clydeport’s Greenock terminal by around 10% this year, says marketing manager, David Jerome. “We’re very much an export-orientated


port here, particularly for whisky and paper for recycling, and we are certainly not slowing down,” he explains. As well as the new Le Havre


link, Greenock also has services to Rotterdam on CMA CGM, MacAndrews to Spain and Portugal and Southampton with X-Press Container Line – the latter has lately increased sailings to twice a week.


As well as providing an outlet


for Scotland’s exports via Le Havre, the new MSC route plays an important part in getting empty boxes positioned into Scotland. The MSC service also calls in Ireland, where there is a strong imbalance in favour of imports and it is a quick and simple matter to reposition empties from Ireland to Scotland for reloading with exports.


To further increase the


supply of boxes to Scottish exporters, Coastal Container Line is also operating a sailing approximately every fortnight to Greenock to move in empties from North-west England. This service is available for any lines’ boxes. Like other Scottish port and


freight operators, Greenock is keen to try to persuade


overseas exporters to the UK to send containerised cargoes direct into Scotland rather than via a southern UK port and a distribution centre. The problem, Jerome acknowledges, is getting them to differentiate their supply chain in this way. “Scotland, as in most things, represents perhaps 10% of the UK market.” The Freight Transport Association’s head of policy for Scotland, Chris MacRae agrees, adding that another issue is the degree to which many shipping lines have centralised their container control. “It’s a problem that isn’t going to go away. It was exacerbated in the recent past because during the recession imports into the UK dropped but Scots exports didn’t decline and the effect could be increase still further if Scottish exports increase still faster than imports as we come out of recession. But the problem is that for an exporter in the Far East, the UK, let alone Scotland looks a small country and it can be hard to appreciate these issues.” Clydeport is in the happy


ISSUE 1 2011 Water, whisky and waste paper boost the Clyde


position of not needing any major infrastructure work to cope with likely increased demand, though it continues to renew equipment such as container handlers and straddle carriers. Greenock has plenty of capacity and, with 11m draught, can handle ships of 2,000teu or more so it will be well on top of any likely future demand in the feeder and shortsea trades, says Jerome, who adds: “My next target will be to try and interest CMA CGM in restarting their Bristol service.” “Our focus is very much on customer service,” he continues. “It could be said that Clydeport is on the ‘wrong’ side of the country as far as Continental Europe is concerned, so we have had to go that extra step and, for instance, ensure that there is no downtime at our terminal. Our whole mentality is customer focussed, to ensure that we overcome any geographic disadvantage.” Greenock also recently extended its gate hours from 07.00 to 23.00 in response to increasing traffic.


All modes lead to the isles


Streamline Shipping Group is perhaps best known for its lifeline services to Shetland and Orkney but there is a lot more to the company than that, says UK sales manager Allan Fitchett. “The islands are still the biggest single part of our turnover – around £11 million out of £80 million – but as a percentage it is reducing because we have also developed other important businesses.” These include the acquisition of Grimsby-based Lincs Forwarding, and a UK-wide distribution operation. Streamline itself also offers an international freight forwarding service to its Scottish customers. But the impression of Streamline as a Northern Isles specialist is understandable given that one of the most visible parts of its operation is the 220teu chartered ship which maintains a regular twice-weekly link from Aberdeen to both islands – and an inter-island link as well. This is the only regular container service to any of the Scottish islands and it provides a high- capacity freight alternative to the NorthLink ro ro ferries. Fitchett says: “The service was a massive thing for the islands when it was introduced – without our ship


the islanders wouldn’t be able to exist.” However, Streamline does also put its trailers onto the ferries to give its customers as wide a choice of departures as possible and provide a service on the days when its own ship does not operate. It also offers a trailer service to the other Scottish islands. However, the lo lo option


does offer a very cost-effective option and a significant amount of capacity, says Allan Fitchett. With some sailings operating full, there is in fact talk of a second ship and an increase in sailing frequency. The existing vessel is itself a replacement for a smaller one. Not only is the extra capacity useful, but it can withstand heavier seas – an advantage it also has over the ro ro ferries, Allan Fitchett points out. Usually, containers are


destuffed on arrival in Orkney and Shetland and the contents distributed on Streamline’s fleet of collection and delivery vehicles, though boxes can be delivered direct to customers’ premises.


Streamline operates a fleet


of 48 trucks and tractor units of various types and weights plus 85 trailers.


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