Industry welcomes UK’s latest container terminal

News Release Image Line Communications Ltd. October 7, 2011

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<DIV>London, 5 October 2011 - The UK’s logistics industry
has welcomed the opening of a new deepwater terminal at the country’s busiest
container terminal, which is capable of handling the latest generation of
container vessels.
 
The Felixstowe South Terminal will
comprise two berths – 8 & 9 – and its owner, Hutchison Ports UK
, claims it is currently the only facility in the country capable of
handling the latest generation of containerships, which have capacities of up to
18,000teu.
 
Graham Riches,
Managing Director, DSV Air & Sea, said: “The opening of this new terminal is
great news for the whole of the UK.
 
“Had the port not
built the new berths, which are capable of handling the latest large
vessels, the UK could have eventually become reliant on European transhipment
which would have extended supply chains and added extra costs to UK exporters
and importers and increased emissions for everybody.
 
“Our customers need a
reliable and regular supply chain and it is essential that the freight industry is
able to provide business with the option of direct ports of
call.
 
“Offloading cargo on
the continent increases the risk of delays to cargo caused during the transfer
of cargo onto vessels heading to this country.”
 
Steve Walker, Chairman
of supply chain solutions provider SBS Worldwide, adds: “This development is of
national importance. Losing deepsea calls would mean transferring cargo at other
ports – this extra handling not only increases prices and extends transit times
but also adds risk into the supply chain.
 
“The extra cost would
eventually be paid for by the consumer which is unacceptable in these times of
economic uncertainty.
 
“Customers would build
in excessive inventory into their supply chains to compensate for the extended
transit times and potential for continental rollovers and it would also drive up
the cost of exports, which would make British businesses less competitive
abroad.
 
“It is essential that
the country as a whole manages to maintain deepsea calls, and with
containerships getting bigger, any country that doesn’t keep pace with vessel
developments risks becoming a feeder only destination.”
 
Currently, Felixstowe handles more
than 40% of the UK ’s container cargo, with around £60 billion of imports and
exports passing through the port each year. The expansion could add a further
£20bn to this figure.</DIV></BODY></HTML>