Rebuilding the UK

‘Keep the freight moving, worry about Seaborne contract legality later’

The rule of law is a luxury the UK can no longer afford as it grapples with Brexit, according to procurement professionals.
As claims of illegality shadow the procurement process for Seaborne Freight’s ferry contract, Chartered Institute of Procurement Specialists’ economist John Glen told The Loadstar: “We have to ask whether the ferry services solve the problem government is grappling with, regardless of the legality of this move and the timing …

The post ‘Keep the freight moving, worry about...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/keep-the-freight-moving-worry-about-seaborne-contract-legality-later/

No-deal Brexit ‘simplified customs’ plan ‘won’t help forwarders or hauliers’

Hauliers and forwarders believe that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK government’s simplified customs process will make no difference to the threat of delays at the Dover crossing.
HMRC noted yesterday that its Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP) for customs “will make importing easier for an initial period of one year, should we leave the EU without a deal, to allow businesses time to prepare for usual import processes”.
It said: “Once businesses …

The post No-deal Brexit...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/no-deal-brexit-simplified-customs-plan-wont-help-forwarders-or-hauliers/

Pressure increases on Grayling and ‘illegal’ Seaborne Freight contract

Further allegations have rocked the UK’s Department for Transport, with besieged secretary of state Chris Grayling facing heightened calls to justify awarding Seaborne Freight a contract.
A Whitehall source told The Loadstar the decision to award the start-up a contract “stinks” of high-level ministerial intervention and was a “knowing breach” of legislation.
Suggesting a lack of transparency around the contract, as well as the timing of the announcement (24 December), the source suggested …

The...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/pressure-increases-on-grayling-and-illegal-seaborne-freight-contract/

Prepare for no-deal Brexit, transport sector is advised, after Commons vote

Businesses should prepare for a no-deal Brexit, some specialists advise after last night’s convoluted and non-binding vote in the UK parliament.
“I’ve never felt more like betting on a no-deal,” said Sandra Strong, of Brexit adviser Strong and Herd, at the MIQ Logistics Knowing Brexit seminar in London this morning.
“If the government has come up with an abbreviation, it will happen. And it has come up with D1ND, Day One No …

The post Prepare for no-deal Brexit, transport sector is advised,...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/prepare-for-no-deal-brexit-transport-sector-is-advised-after-commons-vote/

A ‘freight first’ approach is need to beat road and rail congestion in the UK

A new report from UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG) has established what most container truckers and their customers know from everyday experience: that vast amounts of time are lost due to road congestion.
A Strategic Freight Network for the UK report by industry consultant MDS Transmodal found that an astonishing 50,000 HGV hours a day are wasted, amounting to 19m a year.
And combined, road and rail congestion costs the UK’s economy …

The post A ‘freight first’ approach is need to beat road and...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/a-freight-first-approach-is-need-to-beat-road-and-rail-congestion-in-the-uk/

Whitehall unveils its vision for UK as the ‘world’s leading maritime nation’

The UK government has outlined plans to develop the country as a “global test bed of emerging technology, enabling it to capitalise on the economic potential of maritime innovations”.
A 338-page document, Maritime 2050 – Navigating the Future, was published yesterday afternoon which includes proposals to establish “an innovation hub at a UK port by 2030, look at ways to clean up emissions from the industry and build on the world-class …

The post Whitehall unveils its vision for UK as the...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/whitehall-unveils-its-vision-for-uk-as-the-worlds-leading-maritime-nation/

Logistics industry urges UK to prevent disorderly Brexit but vows to “clear up the mess”

The logistics industry has called on the UK government to ensure continued free trade and no “disorderly” exit from the EU, after politicians last night rejected the Brexit deal put forward by prime minister Theresa May. 
Ms May, who lost by 230 votes, now has just three days in which to come up with a plan B, while also fighting a vote of ‘no confidence’ in parliament. 
Forwarders have today urged the government to avoid a no-deal …

The post Logistics industry urges UK to prevent disorderly...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/logistics-industry-urges-uk-to-prevent-disorderly-brexit-but-vows-to-clear-up-the-mess/

More questions raised over Seaborne’s ability to operate Ramsgate ferries

Seaborne Freight is hoping to have completed its dredging at the port of Ramsgate by the end of the month, but questions still remain overs its capabilities to offer capacity in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
A spokesperson for the ferry company told The Loadstar the work, which commenced on 3 January, was expected to bring the port back in line with its original parameters.
“We are dredging to approximately 6.5 …

The post More questions raised over Seaborne’s ability to operate Ramsgate ferries

https://theloadstar.co.uk/more-questions-raised-over-seabornes-ability-to-operate-ramsgate-ferries/

Brexit: could Channel ports cope with ‘no deal’?

It has been much remarked in the past week that mainstream media knowledge of logistics is limited, to say the least. But here is a piece by the BBC on cross-Channel Brexit woes that covers the problems realistically. It quotes (pro-Brexit) forwarder Andrew Baxter from Europa Worldwide explaining how quickly delays will mount; it challenges Jacob Rees-Mogg’s argument that if Southampton can do a customs check in six seconds, why …

The post Brexit: could Channel ports cope with ‘no deal’?...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/brexit-could-channel-ports-cope-with-no-deal/

Furore over Brexit ferry contract at Ramsgate is ‘overblown nonsense’

“Brexit tribalism” is at the heart of the furore surrounding the UK government’s decision to award Seaborne Freight a contract for ro-ro services in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
A media storm  broke last week with news that the start-up had been awarded a £13.8m contract to provide ferry services into the port of Ramsgate.
One source close to the industry told The Loadstar: “It is overblown nonsense, in so far …

The post Furore over Brexit ferry contract at Ramsgate is ‘overblown nonsense’...

https://theloadstar.co.uk/furore-over-brexit-ferry-contract-at-ramsgate-is-overblown-nonsense/

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