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Issue 4 2019 - Freight Business Journal


charged with ensuring that the UK’s flow of


goods to and from the EU are kept moving.” The PM was right to identify the


crunch issues for exporters and importers in the Brexit debate, namely that: “Leaving the EU without a Deal will impose massive new costs on manufacturers, retailers, logistics businesses and ultimately on consumers, because of new checks, taxes and costs at the Border. The threat of these costs is the source of the ‘Brexit uncertainty’ businesses are talking about and the Government and Opposition have correctly


understood the need to deliver as close to frictionless trade as possible with our existing EU customers and suppliers aſter Brexit. A ‘No Deal’ Brexit is still the worst possible option for trade and logistics.” Businesses would be relieved


by the Government’s intention to keep up to date with EU rules for goods and agri-food products, she added. However, with Mrs May poised


to announce her departure, and many MPs queuing up to say they will not vote for the latest compromise, it remains to be seen if any of these proposals will see the light of day.


Heathrow runway three clears another hurdle


The High Court has thrown out a


challenge brought by local


councils, environmental groups and the London Mayor to plans for a third Heathrow runway. Their case had hinged on the argument that the government’s National Policy Statement in support for the plan had not taken into account the effect of pollution, noise and other factors. However, this was rejected by


the court. In response to the ruling, a


Heathrow spokesman said: “We are delighted with (the) ruling which is a further demonstration that the debate on Heathrow expansion has been had and won, not only in Parliament, but in the courts also. We are getting on with delivering


the once-in-a-generation project that will connect Britain to global growth, providing thousands of new jobs and an economic boost for this country and its future generations.” Director general of the British


International Freight Association Robert Keen, added however: “I can only hope that yesterday’s ruling helps bring the debate on Heathrow expansion closer to an end. However, whilst some have said that the ruling is another important step towards bringing 50 years of indecision and delay on expanding Heathrow to a welcome close, the likelihood of further legal challenges still leaves me with a sense of foreboding whether the spades will ever hit the ground.”


///NEWS Clecat makes passionate plea for open borders


The chief of the CLECAT pan- European freight forwarders’ association has made a plea to political leaders not to turn away from pan-Europeanism and open markets. Director General Nicolette van


der Jagt said: “Those who believe that the solution to social and economic challenges in Europe would entail turning away from the common European idea and returning to nation-state


protectionism must not be leſt to their own devices. Instead, business needs a stronger Europe through further opening of markets and harmonisation, as well as removing barriers instead of creating new ones.” The association has launched


a ‘Logistics for Europe’ initiative. It follows the setting up of a pilot campaign in August last year by the German Freight Forwarders’ Association DSLV.


Kuehne + Nagel overland hub open for business


Kuehne + Nagel has officially opened its new Overland hub at East Midlands Gateway. With 40,000sq ſt of temperature controlled warehouse space dedicated to pharmaceuticals and a 155,000sq ſt cross-dock area for general cargo, the new site will combine activities currently carried out


in


Birmingham and Nottingham and 270 employees will relocate there.


Overland director Jim


Hedderwick said: “With significant


investment in new


technology and a focus on colleague wellbeing our new site will be a great place to work. This supports our goal of being the best company to work for and the best company to work with.” The site was fully operational


by the end of April, and is the first completed structure at the East Midlands Gateway site.


DSLV’s director general Frank


Huster added: ‘Our members feel strongly about the need for a Single Market without import restrictions, customs formalities and border controls. Before the establishment of the European Union, the logistics sector was faced with countless hours of waiting time at the borders due


to the significant amount of formalities. Through the free movement of goods and the freedom of establishment in the EU, transport companies and their clients can avoid high administrative burdens and expensive waiting times, which ultimately results in a benefit for the consumer.”


News Roundup


Maersk Line says it has become the first container shipping company to offer digital ocean customs clearance. It has launched a customs clearance online shipping management platform in the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland and plans to expand it worldwide by the end of 2019.


ZIM Line has signed up to the TradeLens Blockchain-enabled digital shipping solution being jointly developed by AP Moller Maersk and IBM. TradeLens uses blockchain technology to increase trust between carriers, freight forwarders, customs officials, port authorities and others in digitising global trade documentation.


Container shipping technical advisor ABS has teamed up with the operators’ Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) to develop recommendations to reduce dangerous goods risks. ABS has been working with CINS members over the past six months to develop best stowage guidelines, which it plans to publish on the CINS website www.cinsnet.com.


ABP has appointed Julian Walker as chief commercial officer, from 2 September. He joins from Cory Riverside Energy and has previously held senior roles with P&O Ports (now DP World), Euroports and, most recently Impala Terminals (part of the Trafigura Group. The ports group has also appointed Adam Grater as the new head of operations for the Humber, from 1 August. He was most recently the operations support director for Euroports in the Netherlands.


The International Transport Workers’ Federations accused the global shipping industry of “callousness” aſter figures revealed that there had been sharp rise in the number of workers killed in vessel holds. It said that since January 2018, 16 dockers and 12 seafarers have died from asphyxiation or explosions in confined spaces – or from falls aſter passing out due to bad air. This compares with a total of 145 deaths in the past 20 years. It accuses companies of choosing “to save a dollar rather than train and equip workers to labour safely in confined spaces”. See insurance report, page 12.


Brittany Ferries’ Pont-Aven returned to service on 14 May following repairs to fire damage suffered while en route from Plymouth to Santander on 29 April. She will be running on three of her four engines at a reduced speed of 20 rather than 24 knots. While the number of rotations between the UK and Spain will not change, Spanish sailings will operate only from Plymouth and not Portsmouth. Fitting of a replacement fourth engine is scheduled for 2020.


Attendees at this year’s Coastlink Conference will include representatives of short sea shipping companies and their agents, intermodal operators, shipbrokers, ports and freight operators, as well as forwarding and logistics companies, say organisers, the Freight Transport Association. It takes place on 12 and 13 June at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour. Cost is £1,058 per delegate (FTA members will receive a 10% discount on booking). www.coastlink.co.uk


Sea


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