Chris

Brussels approve KLM loan

The European Commission has approved a €3.4 billion Dutch State guarantee on loans and a loan to KLM to provide urgent liquidity following the coronavirus outbreak. The Dutch carrier is part of the Air France-KLM group and is the Netherlands' second-largest private employer with over 36,600 employees. It has suffered a significant reduction of its services, but with the gradual easing of restrictive measures, passenger traffic is slowly recovering. [+]

A victory against the virus

Ipswich-based Thames Sailing Barge Victor, based outside ABP's Ipswich office at the Old Custom House went for a shakedown sail on the River Orwell in July. Not normally something to remark on - in a normal year, she would make over 100 trips from the Waterfront – but has not ... [+]

Liverpool tops another table

Port Skills has ranked Liverpool and Medway operator Peel Ports in first place - with the lowest rate of significant injuries - in its annual benchmarking results for 2019. It follows a 90% reduction in lost time incidents (LTIs) thanks to the efforts of Peel Ports employees. Peel Ports chief executive ... [+]

Ports urge rethink on Freeport plans

The cap of 10 on the total number of freeports allowed after Brext risks limiting the benefits, warns the UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG) in its response to the Government’s consultation. It said that it would be far better if the Government “was guided by the number of compelling proposals ... [+]

Updated: Government to spend £705m on post-Brexit customs…

The government has announced £705 million funding for border infrastructure and after Brexit. It includes up to £470 million for customs and inspection infrastructure including new border infrastructure inland. The package includes £235 million investment in staffing and IT systems with £10 million to recruit around 500 more Border Force personnel and ... [+]

…and plans 27-acre truck-holding park at Ashford

The government is planning to set up a 27-acre holding area for trucks on the outskirts of Ashford, according to press reports. The site at Sevington on the A2070, close to junction 10a on the M20, had previously been earmarked for an Amazon warehouse. It appears to be a replacement for ... [+]

New deputy chief for HMRC

Angela MacDonald has been appointed as deputy chief executive and second permanent secretary at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The post has been vacant since Jim Harra took over as first permanent secretary and chief executive in October 2019. MacDonald is currently director general for customer services group at HMRC ... [+]

Manston air cargo hub gets green light

The Secretary of State for Transport has given development consent to a scheme by RiverOak Strategic Partners to reopen Manston Airport, in Kent as a cargo hub. The decision was originally due to be taken in January and was postponed to May before being postponed again. According to the Department for ... [+]

European Parliament agrees road reform package – updated

The European Parliament agreed the 1st Mobility Package to reform the road transport sector on 9 July including revised rules to improve driver working conditions and reduced distortion of competition in the sector. MEPs endorsed the three legal acts that make up the 'mobility package' without amendments, as adopted by EU ... [+]

Dublin decline ‘could have been worse’

Dublin Port reported a decline in overall tonnage of -10.9% in the first six months of 2020.Having seen a decline of -4.8% in the first quarter, due to Brexit stockpiling in the first quarter of last year, there was a further and steeper decline in the second quarter of 2020 ... [+]