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Issue 1 2013


Government throws out Dover privatisation plan


The Government has rejected a privatisation plan drawn up by the Port of Dover, transport minister Simon Burns announced on 20 December. The sell-off has been mired in controversy ever since it was drawn up, and has faced a rival ‘People’s Port’ plan for an alternative


community-based


scheme. Ferry operators were also angered at the trust-owned port’s alleged diversion of £65 million worth of funds raised by a levy that had been earmarked for the Terminal 2 expansion scheme. The Port of Dover itself said it


was “surprised and extremely disappointed” by the Minister’s announcement. Dover’s chief executive, Bob Goldfield, said: “The decision is frustrating for the port and for the community, for whom this was a unique opportunity to benefit from the success of this major international gateway.” Growing and adding value to the business would however remain key objectives for the port as it continued as a trust port, he said. But the port and community


would now no longer benefit from the injection of many millions of pounds into local community


projects, via its


proposed Community Trust that would have been possible had the decision been in the port’s favour. Dover would “now take some


time to consider the analysis behind the ministerial decision in detail and assess its impact on our future strategic and financial plans.” Leading operator P&O Ferries


though welcomed the decision to reject the privatisation scheme,


saying that it had serious concerns that the interests of ferry operators would be undermined. Chief executive Helen Deeble


said: “The port’s tariffs are already highly contentious in a difficult economic climate and with no safeguards about future tariffs under privatisation, we had very real concerns about future price increases.” She added: “The fundamental


justification for Dover Harbour Board’s scheme has always been the need to raise capital for redevelopment of the Western Docks. We have always questioned this argument and note that the Secretary of State has concluded there are other ways to raise capital without having to privatise.” Mrs Deeble said that the


Secretary of State noted the strength of local opposition and had concluded that the scheme proposed would not ensure community participation in the port. The port’s plan was also not the only option for the Terminal 2 redevelopment of Dover Western Docks. She added: “DHB has agreed


to ring fence the £60 million provided by the ferry companies to pre-fund Terminal 2 but has failed to make it clear how this will be achieved. We are now considering how we can challenge DHB to return the money.” A few days before the


Government announcement, Dover Harbour Board chairman Roger Mountford announced that he would retire on 31


///NEWS


Motis has big plans for clearance


Dover Harbour Board (DHB) has sold its customs clearance arm, Freight Services Agency (FSA) to Ulster-based Motis Ireland. The port’s chief executive, Bob Goldfield, said he was “excited by their plans for the FSA” which would “give Dover an edge in the marketplace.”


Paul King,


Finance director of Motis, said his company would support the local economy and help the port “to provide world-class services to its customers.” Motis, based in Newry, offers


December. The Secretary of State for Transport


has Mountford’s appointed


the present deputy chairman, George Jenkins, as his successor. Roger Mountford has


overseen the oſten controversial commercialization programme at the trust-owned port. But Dover has invested continuously during his tenure, spending £116 million between 2001 and 2009, as well as drawing up the plans for the Terminal 2 scheme. Ports minister, Stephen Hammond paid tribute to Roger


“twelve years of


dedicated service and the highly professional way in which he led the Board. “ Dover’s chief executive, Dr Bob


added: “We now have the structure, the vision and the capability to take the business forward in Dover and more widely in a way unimaginable a few years ago. “Roger has played an important part in achieving that by providing great support and guidance through some challenging times.”


Goldfield,


booking services for freight ferries throughout Europe as well as Alpine tunnel lorry shuttles. It also offers a toll service and is a partner in the All4Trucks parking facility in Calais. But the company also plans to develop its trucking parking facility too, general manager Rob Hardy told FBJ. “We will have the largest 24- hour customs clearance point in the UK but our plan is to develop a truck park that appeals to the general haulier – not just those needing customs clearance.” Motis calculates that the site


could, with development of a former railway siding area, offer a capacity of around 275 trucks, or possibly 40 more with careful marshalling, which would enable


it to offer space both to trucks awaiting clearance and those needing only parking services. The usual truckstop facilities


like showers, restaurants and wifi points would be offered, but as a customs point it could offer a range of more unusual services. Hardy said: “We have a huge scanner which is currently used for sending copies of documents to the National Clearance Hub in Manchester but


it could also be offered


for proofs of delivery, so that hauliers can raise invoices more quickly.” Other possibilities are a digital tachograph download point, ferry booking and toll services, VAT recovery, bureau de change and money transfer services. Movements from the port to the site are also short enough to be made without infringing the rules for driver rest periods, Hardy added. It might also be possible to


check vehicles directly on to ferries from the site and sell continental and the new UK vignettes. It could even be possible to load and offload pallets from vehicles passing through the site – the security of which is currently being upgraded.


Intermodal in October


Intermodal Europe 2013 will take place at the Hamburg Messe in Germany, from 8-10 October. Over 75% of the exhibition space already booked, say the organisers. “With a selection of high-


quality speakers and exhibitors, Intermodal Europe 2012 in


Amsterdam saw a record turnout and was attended by all levels of the global supply chain.” says Event Director Sophie Ahmed. “We had amazing feedback during and aſter the 2012 event and already have had a fantastic amount of interest in Intermodal Europe


Eurotunnel takes to the water


Eurotunnel officially launched its new MyFerryLink ferry alternative to its tunnel shuttles on 19 December, promising a “businesslike approach” with a management team drawn from the private sector. Freight director Jean-Michel Copyans joins the new subsidiary


from Brittany


Ferries and, said Eurotunnel CEO, Jacques Gounon, the new management


team would be


drawn from business rather than the public sector. MyFerryLink has taken over


three ferries formerly operated by bankrupt French railways subsidiary SeaFrance – the Rodin, Berlioz and, most recently, the freighter Nord Pas de Calais which rejoined the fleet aſter undergoing maintenance on 28 November. Gounon told FBJ that the fleet


of three ships and staff of around 450 would be “the right size for the job”, pointing out that Seafrance had a staff of 1,500 for four vessels. The workforce, he added, were motivated and dedicated, many of them ex-Seafrance employees


who had been out of work for nine months and were keen to make the new venture a success. The new company was also


operating a new seven days on, seven days off rota which would be easier to manage and give the teams more time to gel compared with SeaFrance’s two days on two days off arrangement. The new service would offer


competitive rates but would emphasise quality and efficiency and would complement Eurotunnel’s service, taking


cargoes that the tunnel could not, he said. In a statement, MyFerryLink


said it would soon offer 24 daily sailings. The


company noted


that despite having gone into operation in August aſter the end of the summer season the company was increasingly recognised in the market and was progressively attracting clients. But it stressed that it was a long- term project on one of the most competitive trade routes in the world.


2013.” The exhibition provides insight into the future of the container and intermodal industry, with exhibitors showcasing the latest equipment, systems, technology and services designed to improve operational productivity and


Groupe Eurotunnel will also


submit a bid to run the French ferry ports of Calais and Boulogne. A tender process is under way for the concession to run the ports for 50 years. Ferry operators have however raised concerns that this would break competition rules., pointing out that the Office of Fair Trading had already referred Eurotunnel’s purchase of the former SeaFrance ships to the Competition Commission. A distinctly unimpressed P&O


Ferries spokesman Brian Rees said: “They’ve got more front than Dolly Parton. The tunnel is the biggest carrier on the short sea sector. They’ve just bought the


efficiency. Free conference sessions


are led by high profile speakers during the three day event, A new Intermodal Asia event,


was also announced during Intermodal Europe 2012, which will take place in Shanghai in March 2014.


former SeaFrance ships which are sailing between Dover and Calais proudly flying the Eurotunnel flag. And while they wait for the UK Competition Commission to rule on that, they put their hands up to run the ports of Calais and Boulogne. It beggars belief.” Conservative MP for Dover


and Deal Charlie Elphicke added that he was “deeply concerned” that too much control of the cross-Channel freight market would be in the hands of one operator and called for the proposal to be investigated by the Competition Commission and the European Competition Authorities.


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