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Issue 6 2018 - Freight Business Journal


Europa signs deal with Malta’s Parnis England


Europa Road has become Malta road operator Parnis England’s new agent, replacing Knights of Old. The two partners will operate a weekly service between Dartford and the island, which is the second farthest destination on Europa Road’s current network. Europa operations director,


Dan Cook said the new route was expected to yield around 200 export collections per week and 50 import deliveries. He said: “It’s another string to


our bow and broadens the range of products we’re able to offer our customers in house. There


are only a handful of providers serving Malta, and many of them are specialised, doing nothing else,


so we’re looking to provide our customers with more choice and the backing of our experienced


‘No Brexit’ plans – still more questions than answers


Government technical notices for a No Deal Brexit released on 13 September will create red tape and paperwork and do not provide answers to key questions, warned the Freight Transport Association. Pauline Bastidon, head of


European policy, said that the fact that the UK driving licence would only be accepted in partnership with an international driving permit would create delays and confusion for many operators, some of whom may not even be aware that they would require additional paperwork.


Permits


would only be available at a limited number of outlets, and will not be on sale until 1 February, leaving operators little time ahead of Brexit day at the end of March. She added: “No detail has yet been provided on the issue of


whether permits will be required by vehicles travelling to and from Europe - and time is marching on. At this point, we expect only 1,224 permits to be made available to UK hauliers every year if they wish to travel to the European Union - that number pales into insignificance when you consider that the Port of Dover can handle up to 10,000 vehicle movements each day. Without a significant improvement in the planned number of accepted permits for HGVs travelling across the border, there is a very real threat to the integrity of the UK’s supply chain, and delays and product shortages could be a reality.” Bastidon added: “Efforts to


establish bilateral agreements on permits could be a solution for UK business, and FTA welcomes the


DSV adds northern LCL option


DSV has added a less-than- container-load (LCL) sea freight option into the north of England in addition to its existing service to London Gateway. It offers an eight-day transit time from New York


to Liverpool with


unpacking within two working days of arrival, with many of the shipments benefiting from next day delivery. Director LCL at DSV Air & Sea


Ltd, Claus Jensen, commented: “We believe LCL is well positioned


in the service gap between full- container-load and airfreight and offers real value to exporters and importers in most global markets. We’ve been developing a range of new products and service features for customers who need a cost-effective solution offering increased speed to market.” DSV says that it loads more LCL


cargo into its own system than competitors, which means less damage and better information and communications.


government’s proposal to pursue these. However, these would still impose unwelcome burdens and cost on British hauliers seeking to acquire the necessary permits and there is no reassurance in the No Deal papers that there would be sufficient to cover all transport moving to and fro across the UK’s borders. There is still a large amount to do to keep Britain trading efficiently with its biggest customer, the EU, and to suggest that these are processes which can be implemented swiſtly would be to ignore the complexity of a huge administrative task, which is now being placed on the UK’s freight industry. “The priority now must be to


secure a new UK/EU road transport agreement - an even more urgent priority than a trade deal. Without


and solutions-focused road team, without sourcing solutions from outside of our own product range.” Cook added: “We see it as an


opportunity to grow and diversify our offering. While Malta is one of the smallest destinations we service, it punches well above its weight and due to its strategic position remains an important trading post within Europe.” Europa Road has meanwhile


signed a new partnership with distribution and groupage company DGS Transports, based in Limeil-Brevannes, Paris. It follows the signing earlier this year of a new route partnership for France with Ziegler in Rennes and addition of a fourth line, between Dartford and Rennes in addition to the existing Paris, Colmar and Lyon routes.


permits there will be no trucks - and without them, no trade. No one voted for that outcome.” Moreover, there is still no


clarification on how air freight will be able to move into and out of the UK without a new access agreement. The British Ports Association did


however welcome proposals to help ensure maritime vessels and vehicles are able to travel to and from the EU post Brexit in the event of a ‘no deal’ outcome. Chief executive Richard


Ballantyne said: “It is sensible that the UK Government considers all outcomes however we are now critically close to March 2019.” But he also warned: “There is


now limited time for ports and freight operators to prepare and without certainty it is still difficult for terminal operators to commit to investment in physical and digital infrastructure that might be needed to facilitate changing rules for trade.”


New man at Dover’s helm


Dover Harbour Board has appointed Doug Bannister as its new chief executive, following the departure of Tim Waggott in March this year. A dual British and US citizen,


Bannister is currently group chief executive of Jersey Airport and Jersey Harbours and was previously managing director of Maersk Line UK. His international business experience includes transportation organisations in North America, Europe, Asia, India


and New Zealand. He will take up his position by 1


March 2019. Dover chairman Richard Everitt,


said: “Aſter an extensive search I am very happy to welcome Doug and his family to East Kent. He joins at a challenging time for the Port and its key customers. His skills, experience and personality will strengthen the executive team and I am confident his appointment will be welcomed by all the Port’s stakeholders.”


///NEWS News Roundup


The International Road Transport Union and Vietnam Customs have agreed a joint action plan to support the country’s accession to the TIR Convention. China’s activation of TIR is expected to kick-start improved trade flows between the two nations but until now the lack of common guarantee mechanisms in South East Asia was cited as a key stumbling block.


Road & Rail


India formally implemented the TIR customs guarantee system on 15 August, on the country’s Independence Day, the IRU reports. The move is expected to make cargo movements easier and more efficient, including the International North- South Transport Corridor (INSTC) via Iran. The INSTC provides global access to markets, connecting India to the wider TIR network, including Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and Central Asia. TIR could also contribute to the implementation of regional Motor Vehicle Agreements, which will help India integrate with Myanmar and Thailand as well as Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.


A new truck park has opened at DP World London Gateway Port. The five-acre, Hireco-operated site offers short and long term parking for to up 170 trucks. Services to be introduced at the park over the next couple of months include a restaurant open every day, showers, toilets, WiFi, vending machines, CCTV and AdBlue facilities.


The Planning Inspectorate is to examine plans by developer Four Ashes to build a rail-linked logistics centre north of Wolverhampton. The West Midlands Interchange would be a 282 hectare site bordering the A5, A449, and M6 at Gailey. The promoters say the scheme would take freight off the roads but opponents fear increased pollution and traffic congestion, also pointing out that the development would be on Green Belt land.


The Freight Transport Association is holding a series of one- day International Road Transport Operator Conferences in October 2018 to help operators understand and adapt to the changing international regulatory landscape for road haulage. The conference will also debate the potential impact of Brexit - 1 October: Milton Keynes Dons FC; 9 October: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool; and 24 October: Mercure, Brands Hatch. Price for FTA members £150.00 + VAT, non-members £199.00 + VAT. www.fta.co.uk/irtoc


P&O Ferrymasters has added a sixth weekly rail service between Poznan in Poland and Rotterdam. The additional departure – which will boost capacity by 20% - is specifically designed for less trailer load (LTL) freight. Mark Timmermans, trailer director at P&O Ferrymasters, said: “We have responded to what our customers were telling us by introducing our first LTL service by rail using huckepack trailers which can be loaded from the side. Each train has a transit time of 20 hours and consists of 36 huckepack trailers which are able to carry up to 28 tonnes each. The newly introduced sixth service per week will depart on Mondays.


Network Rail has made a small but crucial breakthrough in its plan to increase capacity on the Felixstowe branch line – it has secured permission to build a new bridleway bridge across the line. As part of a £60.4m investment, Network Rail has already begun work to upgrade the branch line, building the space needed for 1.4km of extra track to be laid between Trimley and the level crossing at Gun Lane. Running more trains on the branch line increases risk for users of level crossings. The new bridge, to be built on the site of the existing Gun Lane level crossing, will provide an alternative safe route across the railway for walkers, horse riders and cyclists and allow Network Rail to permanently close six pedestrian level crossings in the area to improve public safety.


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