The UK is the third-largest maritime trading partner for the port of Antwerp. In order to be fully prepared for Brexit the Port Authority is taking various initiatives including the appointment of a new representative for the UK and Ireland. Justin Atkin has assumed this role as of 1 September 2018.
French ports were excluded from European Commission plans for a new shipping route linking Ireland with the Continent post Brexit — potentially preventing them from accessing billions of euros in EU grants.
The Commission adopted a proposal to revise the routing of one of its strategic transport corridors to connect Dublin and Cork with the Belgian ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp and the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, to channel trade directly from Ireland to mainland Europe after Brexit.
Comment from Ferry Shipping News: Jean-Marc Roué, President of French Shipowners and Brittany Ferries is shocked by the intention to exclude the ports in Brittany and the English Channel, and says action needs to be taken to change the plans.
Most of Ireland’s road traffic with the EU goes via Britain, writes The Economist. The Brexit will slow down the ‘land bridge’ route to Ireland.
Port of Zeebrugge Will Become Entirely Brexit Proof
Ferry Shipping News visited Port of Zeebrugge’s CEO, Mr Joachim Coens, for an interview.
Mr Coens was one of the distinguished speakers at our Ferry Shipping Summit in Amsterdam.
Unsurprisingly the main subject of the conversation was the importance of the United Kingdom as a trading partner, its ro-ro services, and the issues around the Brexit.
As The Clock Ticks, Brexit Frustration Is Growing
CEO Port of Zeebrugge, Joachim Coens, and Deputy CEO Port of Calais Benoit Rochet paid a visit to the British House of Commons on June 5, for a session about “UK’s economic relationship with the European Union”. The Belgian and the French Port demand urgent clarity on what will happen post-Brexit in order to secure a smooth transition.
Mr Coens asked for clarity about the transition period. “The transition period of two years is fine, provided we know from the beginning of that transition period what we have to do. We cannot be ready if there is uncertainty in the transition period.”
Some of the hot topics outlined by Mr Coens:
- The need for a good and comprehensive trade agreement EU-UK.
- Preserve current free movement of goods as much as possible.
- Guaranteed efficient and fast transit of – European and international – goods through the port.
- No import duties – minimal non-tariff barriers.
- EU and UK customs administrations need to start preparing and cooperating.
“We know there is Brexit but we don’t know exactly what Brexit means,” said Port of Calais CEO Benoit Rochet.
Business Can’t Rely On Just-In-Time Brexit Preparation
New research by the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with the Port of Dover, finds that over a third of traders rely on the just-in-time delivery of material and components, but that many are not preparing for changes to customs procedures after Brexit.
ESPO Asks Brexit Negotiators To Prioritise Impact For Ports In The Assessment Of Potential Post-Brexit Scenarios
The European Sea Ports Organisation has developed a position paper to submit to the negotiators now that Brexit has entered the second phase.
With this paper, ESPO calls on the Brexit negotiators to prioritise transport and more in particular maritime transport in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations.
European Shipowners Urge For Certainty As Soon As Possible On EU/UK Trade Framework
In a public hearing in the European Parliament’s Transport committee, ECSA’s Secretary General Martin Dorsman discussed the long term objectives for the European shipowners and said: “It is crucial that the EU remains a competitive location for shipping companies to do business. This means a level playing field and close EU-UK cooperation.
Time is running fast and business needs to be able to prepare now. ECSA stresses three immediate priorities for shipowners:
- Frictionless traffic by sea between the UK and the EU,
- Free movement of seafarers, onshore staff and passengers
- Continued market access to the domestic trade and the offshore sector
Currently EU27 exports of goods and services to UK is worth € 365 billion which means 54% of total UK imports and UK exports of goods and services to the EU is € 274 billion equaling 43% of total UK exports.
The increase of freight traffic since 1993 has been enormous, from 1 million lorries in 1993 to 4 million lorries in 2015. Between UK and Ireland it means an increase from 54,000 lorries in 1993 to 392,000 lorries in 2015.
Quote from Port of Rotterdam’s CEO Allard Castelein in a Brexit article on gCaptain.
Specialist ship insurer UK P&I Club plans to set up a subsidiary in the Netherlands as a result of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union
Photo: Mike Louagie