Archives



December 2020

Business groups give Brexit deal cautious welcome – updated

Logistics UK said it felt optimistic about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) finally thrashed out between the UK and EU on 24 December but cautioned that there is still much to be done to protect the nation’s supply chains, and the economy as a whole.Policy director Elizabeth de Jong said: “A deal is great news for the UK economy, since it removes the risk of tariffs being placed on almost ... [+]

‘Never again’ says IRU as Kent blockade starts to ease

The International Road Transport Union is calling on governments to agree clear protocols to avoid a repetition of the current scenes in Kent after the French government closed its borders to truck drivers from the UK. With trucks are now moving slowly through a gridlocked Dover towards France, the current backlog ... [+]

P&O Ferries to sail on Christmas Day to clear Kent backlog

P&O Ferries will be sailing on Christmas Day, along with Eurotunnel to help clear the backlog of stranded trucks in Kent, reports ferry booking agency Motis. Meanwhile, testing at Manston Airport has been slow but is building up, and vehicles have been slowly leaving the site to head to the port. ... [+]

EU and UK ‘close to reaching trade deal’

The EU and UK are close to agreeing a trade deal before the end of  Brexit transition, according to a number of press reports. Sources in Brussels and London believed that talks were coming to a successful conclusion. While a trade deal would not removed the need for customs declarations for ... [+]

Glimmer of hope for stranded Kent truckers

Covid testing is underway of drivers stranded on the approaches to Dover and Eurotunnel or at the Manston holding area, and the first vehicles have been released and boarded ferries reports freight booking agency Motis. However, the situation in Kent remains very difficult, it says. There is still a risk ... [+]

Egypt joins TIR

Egypt has joined the United Nations TIR bonded roadfreight system. In recent years, the TIR system has expanded rapidly in the Middle East and is now fully operational in countries including Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, cutting transport times by up to 90%. Transit times will be ... [+]

Air France KLM to fly Christmas freighters, Lufthansa flies supplies to Yorkshire

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo will operate additional wide body belly capacity from Schiphol to London Heathrow and back using KLM Airbus A330 planes on 25 and 26 December. The carrier added that it was monitoring the situation closely and would further adapt its network when necessary from its hubs ... [+]

Emirates flies first vaccine to UAE

Emirates SkyCargo flew the first Pfizer-BioNTech Covid to the UAE for the Dubai Health Authority, free of charge on a service from Brussels on 22 December. On arrival the containers were unloaded and taken to the Emirates SkyPharma facility to await clearance for delivery. The carrier has set up the ... [+]

Hapag-Lloyd orders dual-fuel megaships

German-owned shipping line Hapag-Lloyd has ordered six ultra large container vessels of over 23,500teu from Daewoo in Korea. They will be delivered between April and December 2023 and will be deployed on the Europe-Far East routes as part of THE Alliance. They will operate on LNG or conventional fuel. [+]

French border reopens but expect delays – updated

Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover have reopened to accompanied freight after an agreement between the UK and French government to ease the Covid travel ban. However, drivers must take a Covid test and shows a negative result.Freight ferry booking agency Motis said that the UK military is organising testing at ... [+]