New Kent Shipping Service Leads the Way
For the right route moving freight by water rather than by road can significantly reduce conjestion on the roads and lessen environmental impacts. In the UK despite these advantages the shift from road to water-borne modes of freight transportation has been slow. To help identify the reasons for this Marine South East conducted a study as part of its RACINE freight logistics project. The work revealed key barriers to be the high cost of port dues, pilotage fees and cargo handling charges for many commercial ports and the lack of suitable return loads. These charges make many potential short sea shipping routes uncompetitive against road and rail alternatives that do not face similar costs.
However, Kent-based company Scotline has been working to overcome these obstacles and has introduced a new shipping service to transport timber construction board from Scotland to the South East. The rising costs of the previous road transportation for this cargo were becoming a problem for the shipper.
Typical handling charges in a commercial port for timber cargos are £8/ton. By using their own terminals in Rochester, Goole and Inverness, Scotline are able to keep handling costs down to £5/ton making the seagoing route financially attractive. Scotline are also making their vessels available for return freight loads.
Additionally, in recent months many owner-driver hauliers operating on fixed price contracts have been unable to pass on rapidly rising fuel costs to their customers and are being squeezed out of business. If fuel costs continue to rise, the resulting reduction in the supply of road haulage could make waterborne transportation a more attractive alternative.
Roy Brooks, Director at Scotline and Chairman of the Chamber of Shipping 'Short Sea Shipping Issues Committee' commented: "Over the years we have promoted this sort of all inclusive delivery model encompassing all the different elements of shipping, port ownership, ship owning and distribution service. In this time the company has invested some 40 million pounds in ship owning and port facilities and this is expected to increase with the addition of two more coastal ships in the very near future."
In collaboration with Sea and Water, the Chamber of Shipping is exploring the best ways to support and promote growth in short sea shipping. Marine South East Chairman Iain Shepherd will be attending a meeting with the Chamber Shipping in August and will report back on plans to move forward.
Although this new service is based in Kent it is an issue that affects the whole region. Bill Moses, Chairman of the River Medway Business Users' Association supports the work that Roy Brooks has been doing over the last few years.
He commented: "Scotline's initiative in developing a coastwise link from Inverness to the south coast is to be applauded. This is a classic example of how road miles can be eliminated in favour of the proven 'motorways of the sea' concept that has found favour elsewhere in Europe yet escaped promotion or more importantly support within and around the UK coastline."
If you would like to find out more contact simon@marinesoutheast.co.uk
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