Commenting, Richard Ballantyne, chief executive of the British Ports Association, which represents ports that facilitate 86% of our trade including all the UK’s main roll-on roll-off gateways, said:
“We welcome this fund and the focus on preparing port infrastructure for what will need [to] accommodate a significant change in our trading relationship with the EU. It’s clear that without support there would not be the capacity to deal the new customs and border requirements. We therefore welcome this scheme which importantly will be open to all port operators across Great Britain.
“The clock is definitely ticking and a lot of work still needs to be done but this will help overcome a significant hurdle. We will continue to work with government to help shape a border strategy that works for the UK’s freight sector.”
Although open to all types of ports it is expected that Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) operators will have the most interest in applying to use this scheme. This sector has the most to do to adapt to new requirements which will come into existence when the EU completes the Brexit transition period. Indeed, how new controls are placed on the 10,000 lorry movements a day between the UK and Europe is critical to avoid traffic disruption.
As well as representing more than 400 ports and terminals across the UK the BPA also includes all the main Ro-Ro operators including facilities at Dover, Fishguard, Holyhead, Hull, Immingham, Liverpool, Newhaven, Pembroke, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Purfleet and Tyne, as well as ports facilitating domestic traffic between GB and NI.