8


Issue 1 2021 - FBJ Ireland


///IRELAND


Hertfordshire-based warehousing and distribution business – and forwarder - Aztek Logistics says it is continuing its quest to ease the confusion over Brexit. As a member of the Pallet-


Track logistics network, last year it reminded customers of the new customs protocols post- January 1 2021. Now, following what the


UK Government described as ‘teething challenges’ which saw many hauliers turned back from the border because of paperwork discrepancies, the Letchworth Garden City- based business, which sends daily shipments to Ireland, has doubled its efforts to assist customers by publishing a Brexit administrative essentials


checklist to ensure they have the right documentation. On its website, (https://www.


azteklogistics.co.uk) it highlights the essential paperwork required for frictionless trade across the Irish Sea. There is also specific


information on Aztek’s administrative essentials guide which takes the form of a segmented wheel where the customer can ‘click’ to reveal more specific


information


pertaining to subjects including EORI notes, commodity codes, declarations, commercial invoicing, packing lists, certificates and licences and tariffs. Apart from new complex customs arrangements


Brexit could trigger shiſt to boxes, says Waterford boss


Thanks to Brexit, Ireland has


been going through “a


fascinating time”, says Frank Ronan, chief executive at the port of Waterford. He explains: “Brexit has done


all the things we expected it would do to logistics and freight - just more so. The expansion of


ro-ro services from our


neighbouring sister port in Rosslare has been well beyond what I would have anticipated and it’s great to see. It’s good for our region and underlines the importance of the wider port network outside of Dublin. We won’t, unfortunately, see that sort of exponential growth in our liſt on/liſt off business but we do expect some modal shiſt to lo-lo for freight that can tolerate some small sacrifice in timing and frequency for a solution that is cheaper and more efficient in terms of people, assets and carbon. We are well placed to play a role in this.” Container throughput at


Waterford in fact grew in 2020, “with laden boxes up 9%, on the back of several years of consistent growth in excess of the market - so we are very pleased with that.” Waterford continues to handle


the twice weekly DFDS/Samskip call and a once weekly visit from


published by the UK government, businesses dealing with Irish customers must also ensure that shipments only travel on heat-treated pallets, another new post-Brexit arrangement, as the UK now falls outside of an EU-wide


impact some of Waterford’s throughput and should encourage lo-lo and rail freight services. He adds that reactivation of


the rail freight service into the port is likely in the short term, though this is not confirmed yet. He adds: “In the longer term we believe the case for a much greater use of the rail for freight in Ireland is undeniable. We are particularly well placed to facilitate this.” In times past, the port was a major hub on the Irish rail freight


exemption to this rule. Under guidelines issued by


the Department for Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), ISPM15 heat treatment is necessary to reduce the risk of spreading pests found in wood packaging materials. Since


level of uncertainty around what our ports will be called upon to do in the longer term. However, whatever way it all balances out, I am confident that Waterford is well placed to continue to play a significant role in facilitating trade to and from Ireland.” Waterford also had some


good project cargo business in 2020 and the outlook for 2021 is strong, including another likely phase of on-shore wind projects. Ronan points out: “Waterford is particularly well positioned to service these industrial and renewable energy projects given our easy access to the national motorway network and a lot of in-port capability on what can be challenging liſting and stevedoring. Plenty of storage capacity is another plus.” The port has enough capacity


BG for Hapag Lloyd and Maersk, all connecting to Rotterdam. Bulk throughput in 2020 was


1.5 million tonnes, down about 3% on the previous year. Ronan believes that climate


change will get a lot of attention over coming years and will


network, handling boxes for the whole of the island of Ireland for intermodal operator Bell Lines. Ronan continues: “The


pandemic will have a lasting impact on the globalised nature of supply chains. So in that context there is an even greater


available for both bulk and containers to keep it well positioned and actively growing for a couple of years. However: “We are doing the ‘hard yards’ with our Masterplan projects with the emphasis now on the whole range of studies that we need to undertake to bring the consenting process to the next level.”


2002, the UK has been part of the EU territory which was treated as one country, so was exempt from the cross-border regulation. Operations manager, Duncan


Pannell, said: “There has been a lot of disruption at the border with haulers being turned back as well as European hauliers not wanting to send goods to the UK for fear of getting their trailers stuck here. There has been a lot of confusion with rules changing almost by the day. We have engaged a consultant to help us with the guide to make sure we cover every eventuality. “Incorrect paperwork is the


main reason for the delays, so we want to assist businesses as much as we can and this guide


is designed to achieve just that.” Aztek Logistics is also


investing in additional customs clearance training for its staff and engaging apprentices to take on this role. Managing director Stuart


Charter, added: “Brexit issues continue to be of ongoing concern to our customers who are simply looking for clarity and closure after months and years of rancour and disagreement. “We want to represent the


common sense voice of reason that de-mystifies the issues and allows businesses to operate on both sides of the Irish Sea fully aware of what they need to do to meet the requirements of the protocols.”


Harbour International


helps its customers sail into unknown waters


The UK Government may have spent many millions on various TV and Radio adverts and motorway matrix signs advising UK business to get ready for change, but it has been hard to prepare and adapt


for the unknown, says


Steve Swinburn, UK general manager at Manchester-based Irish Sea specialist, Harbour International Freight. He explains: “Preparing my


own customers and clients for the unknown has been challenging and at times quite fraught. It has shown that the government has been out of touch with UK plc and the realities and complexity of international trade and how the UK supply chain and industry has changed, adapted, and embraced global outsourcing and manufacturing.” He warns that the ‘free trade’


deal in place with the European Union has the potential to decimate


companies over


something that was hidden and glossed over in the small print - the zero customs tariff and duties only relate to goods that are of UK or EU origin. “An important point here is that Origin, for customs purposes, means the country of manufacture, not the country from where it is being shipped. And given that the UK


10 >> CONTACT THE BREXIT EXPERTS!


• UK-Ireland-UK Distribution Specialists • Full Range of Customs Clearance Services • European and Global Forwarding Solutions


www.translandgroup.com


info@translandgroup.com Irl: +353 (0)1 8293222 / UK: +44 (0)1543 445656


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