As Brexit approaches, the UK’s leading port operator Associated British Ports (ABP) has announced that it will invest additional funds to boost facilities at the Port of Hull.
ABP has invested over US$320 million since the EU referendum, as part of its commitment to keeping Britain trading with Europe and the rest of the world after Brexit.
While a “No-Deal” Brexit could cause disruption at the Port of Dover, ABP has stated that its container and ferry facilities on the Humber are capable of helping businesses bypass such disruption, providing regular and reliable links to Europe.
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Over 70 sailings every week connect the Humber to numerous destinations within Europe, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Poland.
The operator’s investment programme has included a $64 million cash injection to boost the capacity of container terminals at ABP Hull and ABP Immingham, as well as range of other initiatives across ABP’s network of 21 ports.
Henrik Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer of ABP, commented: “For ABP, ‘keeping Britain trading’ is a responsibility that we are passionately committed to.
BEEP BEEP – we love a good throwback- here's the the Port of #Hull shipping coaches destined for the tropics of Cuba during 1964 �� #throwback #KeepingBritainTrading #history #Yorkshire pic.twitter.com/OIMstdb3vg
— ABP Humber (@ABPHumber) January 11, 2019
“We are continuing to invest in our people, equipment and capability, so that we have the flexibility and resilience we need to help UK trade to flow and grow.
“We have already seen volumes begin to rise at our ports on the Humber as customers look for alternatives to Dover. Our ports have been operating to world-class standards for many years, we have proved that we are ready to handle new customers’ requirements.”
ABP is an important component in the UK’s trading infrastructure, handling almost $193 billion of UK trade across its port network and contributing around $9.7 billion to the UK economy.
Pedersen added: “We want to send a strong message that ABP stands ready to keep Britain trading through Brexit, and we will continue to invest to drive trade and create jobs over the longer term.”
If you are a major shipper or cargo owner and would like to learn more about how #ABP can help your business by offering resilient and reliable supply chain solutions, email: resilience@abports.co.uk https://t.co/SmojqiUO6P #Brexit pic.twitter.com/xLei1pJoqL
— AB Ports (@abports21) December 11, 2018
ABP also provided a statement ahead of a Parliamentary vote on whether or not to accept Theresa May's Brexit deal.
“It is important to remember that, in the seemingly unlikely event that this deal is agreed by Parliament, this is the beginning of a process, not the end of it.
“We have yet to negotiate more than the basic principles behind our future relationship with the EU and there remains much to be agreed, including fundamental questions around if and how goods are checked and handled at the border.
“Whilst the British Ports Association takes no view on wider political machinations, we would at this stage urge politicians to work together in the interests of the country and be pragmatic in finding a way through this impasse.”
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