SA LS FIGURES

13th October 2005, Page 51

13th October 2005

Page 51

Page 51, 13th October 2005 — SA LS FIGURES

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Much has happened in to the ferry industry in the past year. CM gives you its annual update.

The good news this year is that so far there's been a continued increase in the amount of goods we're exporting via road transport compared with 2004, which itself improved by 5% over 2003, But on the downside imports are still stronger by 1.4 tonnes per vehicle (blame the government). But that's not to say there haven't been any changes in how we're exporting goods.

Last year we mentioned that the introduction of the Work in g Time Directive would change the way operators work out routes overseas, incorporating the legislation to the detriment of time and money.This year still sees operators working around the rules.

However, according to Jon Clarke, freight director for Brittany Ferries, there has also been a noticeable increase in sea mileage to the detriment of road miles. 'With factors such as increased fuel prices and road congestion we have seen hauliers taking active steps to reduce road travel when travelling abroad," he says.

This tightening of the purse strings has also been a factor in the increased use of foreign operators (see chart). Chris Childs of Channel Ports, which organises ferry bookings. says: "We've noticed a dramatic increase in dealing with hauliers abroad over the past year; in fact they are now the majority of our customers." • Eurotunnel has unveiled a new proposition to hauliers who forecast the daily volume of trucks they put through the Channel Tunnel. Traffic that has not been forecast will have a lower priority and will be charged the higher standard freight rate.The company is trying to move away from being seen as just an 'insurance policy' for traditional ferry users.

• Despite the berthing problems at Calais in the first half of the year, freight throughput at the Port of Dover is still showing growth. July saw two new ferry berths opened, by the Queen no less, at a cost of .£37m.The port is also seeking planning permission to build a new Eastern Docks exit road to speed up traffic flows.The scheme, which will involve the construction of a slip road at ground level onto the A20, will significantly reduce traffic on the roundabout outside the docks.

• A significant development in the ferry world over the past year is the decision by LD Lines to take over the Portsmouth to Le Havre route left vacant by P&O and previously rumoured to be taken up by Brittany Ferries.The daily service will depart from Portsmouth at 23.00, and will arrive the following morning in Le Havre at Y7.30. • NorseMerchant Ferries has introduced a new vessel on its Birkenhead to Belfast route. The first of two 26.500t sister ships being built in Italy, the Logan Viking can accommodate 150 commercial vehicles and is scheduled to complete the trip in eight hours.

• Norfolkline has introduced the first of its three new purpose-built ferries to operate on its Dover to Dunkerque route. Each 34,500t ship will have capacity for 120 freight vehicles and the crossing time will be reduced to one hour 50 minutes compared to the current crossing time of two hours.

• The new ro/ro Ipswich Ferry Terminal facility at the Port of Ipswich has been opened. Built at a cost °finial.

• The country's largest port by tonnage, the Port of Grimsby and Immingham is set to open its terminal in 2006.The extended terminal will have a total berth length of 520 metres.

111 Brittany Ferries' latest addition, the Norm andie Express, has entered service.The catamaran will operate from Portsmouth to Cherbourg and Caen between mid-March and mid-November.The company has also placed an order for a freight-only vessel that includes 1.37 miles of garage lanes and will be able to accommodate 120 vehicles.This is the first time this decade that such a vehicle has been ordered. •