Back from the Brexit brink 2 head of global European


The freight industry breathed a sigh of relief on 10 April when the European Union agreed to a six-month extension to Brexit, allowing the UK to draw back from a No Deal departure. However, while it does give UK


politicians more time in which to hammer out an acceptable compromise, it does not mean that the threat of a No Deal has gone away entirely, warned the Freight Transport Association. Its


and policy, Pauline


Bastidon said that while the cliff edge had been avoided for now and that the extra preparation time would be useful


alternative arrangements.” FTA called on its members “to


use this extra time wisely”. FTA was echoed by the CBI


which said: “Businesses will be adjusting their no deal plans, not cancelling them.” FTA Ireland general manager


Aidan Flynn said that while the extension was, essentially, ‘kicking the can down the road’ – it did allow much needed time for more substantial and realistic preparations.


Flynn added: to the


industry, No Deal “cannot be excluded further down the line - indeed, it remains the legal default, in the absence of


“Many businesses desperately need to advance their Brexit preparations; less than 50% of Irish businesses that trade with the UK have currently registered for an EORI number. These companies must now ramp up their preparations and start implementing contingency


Forwarders to


operate Transitional Simplified Procedures


The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)’s decision to allow freight forwarders, as well as traders. to operate the new Transitional Simplified Procedures system in the event of a no-deal Brexit, along with an extension to the period in which the arrangements would apply. The original proposals appeared


to suggest that only traders would be allowed to use TSP. BIFA had lobbied the


government, pointing out that forwarders are most likely to be fully prepared to operate TSP and that the plans actually discriminated against them. The period during which TSP


would apply was also extended, to 4 October. BIFA said this would


plans for a No Deal Brexit. Change is coming and it is only a matter of when, not if, trading conditions change.” Freight forwarder Rhenus said


that in spite of the extension to Article 50, it was “still planning for a no-deal Brexit. Although the UK now has an additional six months to prepare, the uncertainty surrounding both Brexit and the extensions means we need to be in a position to move goods in a no-deal scenario from today.” At Rugby-based German/


UK operator Exact Logistics, joint managing director Adam Shuter said the form of Brexit chosen mattered less than that the government should “make a clear and definitive decision. If we are going to need to do


give more time to make prepare, fully test systems, establish the communication links between the parties involved in the processes, and make sure that everyone concerned is aware of their responsibilities. Director general Robert Keen


also applauded the fact that TSP will be available for any port or airport where goods are being brought into the UK from the EU, not just ro-ro ports and that it would also allow freight forwarders to operate TSP on behalf of their clients. Keen concluded: “This is a very significant easement of policy


Issue 3 2019 - Freight Business Journal


customs clearance, will someone please tell us we so we can prepare for it. We just need some clarity. And that is very much the attitude of our customers in Germany too.” John Perry, managing


director of the Scala supply chain consultancy added that many companies would now have to decide whether or not to continue to stockpile goods in the UK, “an incredibly costly endeavour”. The Brexit extension could allow them to instead look beyond stockpiling, and put in place more effective,


long-term


risk-reduction strategies. BIFA director general Robert


Keen meanwhile predicted that the freight industry would continue to do what it always has done throughout history: “Forwarders have been preparing for all eventualities and are ready to keep the supply chains open.”


and one for which BIFA, amongst others, lobbied hard to ensure all modes were treated equally. It should be noted that much confusion and effort could have been saved if Government had consulted with the trade in the first place. “By allowing freight forwarders


to operate TSP, the extension recognises the critical role that the forwarder plays as an intermediary in the UK’s supply chain.” HMRC is also giving importers


- both TSP and non-TSP registered companies - until 30 September to obtain a customs duty deferment account.


///NEWS


Retailer sets up shop in Doncaster’s iPort


Property developer Verdion has let the second, 731,000sq ſt (67,912sq m) phase of its iPort logistics hub in Doncaster to an unnamed online retailer. Set for completion in the


second quarter of 2020, the new mega-warehouse will be the first building on the 300 acre second phase in the southern part of the development and includes landscaping and environmental buffer zones. iPort has capacity for up to


6 million sq ſt of logistics space in total, including 3m sq ſt in the second phase. Phase 1 occupiers include Amazon, CEVA, Fellowes and Lidl, and three smaller, speculatively-developed units are now ready for occupation. The site is also home to


the iPort terminal operated by Verdion with capacity for the UK’s longest trains and storage for 1500teu on site.


Verdion expects to increase rail services and finalise Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status later this year. John Clements, European


development director at Verdion, said: “iPort is already the UK’s most advanced multimodal logistics hub and it’s now shaping up to become the most successful. This latest letting reinforces both Doncaster’s position as an e-commerce location of truly national importance and our commitment to successfully delivering high specification logistics space on a very large scale. “Launching Phase 2 means


we can rapidly bring forward more major build-to-suit opportunities alongside smaller scale speculative developments for occupiers needing speed to market.”


Operation Stack Holyhead-style


The Welsh Government has revealed plans to minimise disruption at Holyhead in the event of a future No Deal Brexit. Under the plans, if waiting traffic exceed the port’s 660-vehicle capacity, drivers will be directed to


the Roadking services at


Parc Cybi, close to the port entrance where 175 HGVs can be accommodated with welfare facilities available. The Welsh Government has


arranged for free parking for


Dublin-bound freight traffic at the site under these arrangements. Additional traffic officers will be on hand around the clock. Road space around Parc Cybi will also be used if necessary, with space for a further 30 stacked HGVs. In the unlikely event of all


these spaces not being sufficient HGVs will use the westbound carriageway of the A55 at Holyhead.


Grimsby goes to the next level


ABP has applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to expand its Grimsby River Terminal (GRT) to handle the world’s largest car carriers. The port operator wants to


extend the existing berths, as well as deepen the berthing pocket through dredging to allow the terminal, which can already handle two 175 m long vessels simultaneously, to accommodate


9,000-vehicle ships. Ashley Curnow, ABP Port


Manager for Grimsby said: “For many years Grimsby has been at the forefront of the movement of cars in the UK industry. This development will take us to the next exciting level. The port already has a proud history behind it and a bold future ahead.” A response from the MMO is expected imminently.


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