Peel Ports has recently announced that it has secured 50 advocates for its Cargo200 initiative and is urging other shippers in the North-West to add their weight to the campaign.
The initiative aims to cut freight mileage by 200 million miles over the next five years.
In addition to achieving significant carbon reduction, the company also estimates that the move could save shippers up to US$611 per container in transportation costs by delivering to the heartland of the UK.
Launched in May, Peel Ports called for importers and exporters whose goods began or ended their journey in the north of the UK, to switch current delivery of ocean freight from south-east ports to the centrally-located Port of Liverpool.
Diageo, JCB, B&M, Jaguar Land Rover, Matalan and Typhoo are among the first fifty customers to respond to the Cargo 200 initiative.
Jerome Wildsmith, Head of Supply Chain at retailer B&M, said: “Shipping through Liverpool offers B&M massive benefits. By removing four million miles of transport we save significantly in our onward transport costs, reduce the carbon emitted and reduce the likelihood of delays on the UK network.
“Not only that, but by using the port close to our distribution centre, we can use Peel Ports’ value-added services, such as their flexible storage and warehouse offerings. The first line to offer direct calls into Liverpool on our key shipping routes is likely to benefit in a huge volume gain, not just from B&M, but the many companies like us in the North-West region.”
Mark Taylor, Imports Operations Manager at Matalan, said: “The benefits we could realise by shipping our 10,000 boxes through Liverpool are not just sourced from the transport cost savings associated with lower mileage, but from the benefits we will see in our entire supply chain.”
Peel Ports’ Group Commercial Director, Patrick Walters said: “With 50% of demand for all UK cargo coming from the northern half of the UK, including Scotland and Ireland – the Port of Liverpool is strategically important as the most centrally located port in the UK. Efficiency and sustainability lie at the heart of the Cargo200 initiative and with the opening of Liverpool2, cargo owners and logistics operators can benefit from a viable, cost effective alternative to southern ports.
“Our next step will be to work with current and new backers on sharing data and carrying out further modelling to reinforce the arguments for shipping via Liverpool.”
