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Issue 1 2019 - Freight Business Journal


///NEWS


the politicians aren’t, says Calais


The port of Calais has published details of the new facilities it had created in anticipation of a ‘No Deal’ outcome. Port Boulogne Calais says


it has been working closely with government services, transport associations, maritime operators, veterinary inspection services and others to help it maintain a smooth border crossing while meeting new obligations for customs controls and declarations. There will be control


zones for live animals and a veterinary and phytosanitary Inspection Service (VPIS) will be set up, together with an export declaration zone


for


freight that can accommodate 200 trucks at the East Port. Commentators have


suggested that such areas could be vital in providing a refuge for trucks that were detained by Customs or other authorities without impeding


We’re ready, even if Felixstowe to boost DFDS capacity


the free flow of traffic in and out of the port. Calais adds that all measures


are scalable and can be adapted according to traffic and the level of controls to be deployed in line with the final Brexit agreements, which are currently still unknown. Port staff have also been trained, it says.


In parallel with physical


arrangements, an intelligent system will be put in place. All declarations will be made into the customs declaration system before passing through the port and, when passing through the port, a connection will be made linking the vehicle’s registration plate with electronic customs documents. This will avoid any unnecessary physical checks and minimise congestion, the port says. The cost of all these


provisions is estimated at €6 million.


The Port of Felixstowe and DFDS said on 21 January that they had agreed to increase ro ro capacity at the UK port by over 40% including a new linkspan, tractor units and 300 additional trailer parking. The port’s chief executive Clemence Cheng, said the


Davies Turner restructures Express China Rail Service operation


Davies Turner is upgrading its fixed-day, weekly rail import service for LCL cargoes from China. Following a recent restructuring


of operations, containers will go by rail from Wuhan direct to Duisburg in Germany, before being trucked under bond to the port of Rotterdam and transported by ferry to Purfleet, near Dartford for on-carriage by truck to Davies Turner’s


distribution centre,


where they will be discharged, customs cleared and delivered. Tony Cole, head of supply chain


services at Davies Turner says: “This new more direct method


of moving the container from Wuhan to the UK will remove the current need to unload the container in Poland, then reload into a trailer, which will enable us to offer a lower rate to the market, and reduce the possibility of delays, as well as strengthening security.” The service is offered in


conjunction with Davies Turner’s long-standing partner in China - Air Sea Transport Inc - which arranges collection of shipments from any location in mainland China to the rail


terminal at Wuhan, where


closing dates are approximately three days prior to the departure


of the intercontinental rail service. The Wuhan rail hub to Dartford


depot transit time is 22 to 24 days. Philip Stephenson, chairman


of Davies Turner adds: “We were one of the early adopters of the opportunity to ship via rail from China to the UK and it has proved to be a practical way of offering an alternative with clear advantages over the ocean freight and air cargo options in terms of cost and transit times. “I believe that the recent


restructuring of our services leaves us as the only UK freight forwarder with a truly direct overland LCL and FCL option


investment was driven by long- term confidence in the ro/ro route between Felixstowe and Rotterdam and that there was increasing interest in ro ro and short sea container connections as shippers seek to minimise risks


to their supply chains resulting from Brexit.


from Wuhan to the UK, with no transhipment of cargo en route. “We


have already seen


during the previous two years of providing rail services how this option has assisted clients’ supply chain needs, and with proven schedule reliability, secure market conditions and competitive rates, rail is proving to be an increasingly popular choice. “If a client is experiencing


issues with orders running behind schedule, at times of peak ocean demand, when an ocean sailing has been missed or, as with the current ocean market conditions where vessels have been cut and are omitting UK ports, then rail is a viable service option, particularly so for larger shipments or dense cargo where the cost of air-freight can prove prohibitive.”


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