Above left: The Port’s main cargoes are all linked to construction Above right: Beth Evans-Gay is commercial and property director at Shoreham Port
industry and demand have a direct impact on our cargo tonnage through the Port. The cost-of-living crisis and uncertainty in government plans in terms of investment in major infrastructure projects have an impact on our business. In this regard 2023 continued to be a challenging year. However, with a new government in place with a commitment to building, we are optimistic about an increase in the demand for construction products. Timber is a sustainable building product and through the industry highlighting its environmental credentials, it is a very important material to contribute to building sustainably, so we are really hoping for a post-election bounce in business. We work very closely with our timber customers to continue to adapt and deliver the services required to meet demand.
TTJ: HAVE THERE BEEN ANY DEVELOPMENTS IN TERMS OF SHIPPING LINES USING SHOREHAM? BEG: We have continued to see regular shipping from existing lines using the Port, that includes Ahlmarks, Lacey & Middlemiss, TTS and others.
TTJ: HAS THERE BEEN FURTHER INVESTMENT IN STORAGE AND HANDLING FOR TIMBER? BEG: As a Trust Port, our purpose remains to shape and maintain the Port for the benefit of all stakeholders. With surpluses we make reinvested into the Port, we undertake ongoing investment in our timber sheds and ground conditions, with improvements ongoing. Whilst this is business-as-usual investment, as you can imagine with the volume we handle there is a substantial amount of workplace equipment needed, from a fleet of forklift trucks to cranage. We are really pleased to be moving forward with placing an order for a brand-new crane. Lead times for this type of equipment are long, so as yet we can’t announce when it will arrive, but we are delighted at the ongoing
commitment by our board to invest in critical infrastructure.
TTJ: HAVE THERE BEEN FURTHER MOVES TO REDUCE THE PORT’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS? BEG: A key focus of the last few years has been the development of an in depth understanding of our emissions impact, the main areas from which our emissions are generated and to inform our carbon reduction strategy. We took the exciting step to transition our fleet of forklifts, cranes and our own marine vessels, including our pilot and tugboats, onto sustainably sourced, ISCC certified Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). Offering an 80-90% reduction in CO2
compared to
fossil fuels, this drop-in alternative allows us to bridge our path to future technologies such as hydrogen and electrification, reducing a significant proportion of our Scope 1 emissions and helping to improve air quality. With an ambition to drastically increase our recycling rates, in August 2023 we introduced wood recycling to the Port, targeting dunnage in particular. Dunnage is a type of packaging used in the transportation of steel and timber, slotting between each pack and enabling our cranes and forklifts to access them. After conversations with numerous organisations, taking into account regulations surrounding wood used in import, we managed to identify a solution, with all wood collected sent for biomass within the UK. Recycling this resource by working with a UK biomass plant is another way we are reducing our footprint, and in the first five months we recycled 26 tonnes of wood, diverting a valuable resource from landfill to produce green energy. Towards the end of 2023, we were successful in an application for the Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plans competition, run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in collaboration with Innovate UK Research and Innovation. Our share of the
£6m competitive grant supports advancement of our place-based decarbonisation plans, enabling us to collaborate with closely located industrial businesses. Through this we will be able to understand our impacts and produce a plan on how we can collectively reduce them and achieve net zero, assessing the use of future fuels, electrification and energy efficiency measures.
TTJ: HOW HAS THE PORT’S OWN HAULAGE ARM EVOLVED? BEG: Our haulage team soared to new heights in 2023, achieving a remarkable 46.79% increase in timber deliveries compared to the previous year. This success was made possible through sustained investment, resulting in the expansion of our fleet to over 15 trucks and numerous trailers, accompanied by the addition of seven HGV drivers through the year, maintaining our commitment to providing quality local employment.
These investments underscore our dedication to fostering partnerships with both existing and prospective clients to grow our haulage service, ensuring that each customer receives a safe, efficient, and seamless logistics service from port to door. All our vehicles are FORS certified and feature Euro 6 engines with cutting-edge safety systems, meeting the stringent standards set for frequent visits to London.
WHAT IS SHOREHAM PORT’S OUTLOOK FOR THE REST OF 2024 AND INTO 2025 AND FOR YOUR TIMBER OPERATIONS PARTICULARLY? BEG: Looking ahead, we maintain a cautious outlook for the next 12 months. Despite our sustained diversification efforts, much of our core business remains reliant on the construction sector, which faces continued uncertainty. Nevertheless, we are confident in our strong relationships with customers and suppliers, as well as the capabilities of our exceptional team. ■
www.ttjonline.com | September/October 2024 | TTJ
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