Shipping cargo to Europe from the Humber region’s ports instead of Dover reduces harmful carbon emissions, new research has shown.
Since the 海角视频’s vote to leave the European Union, focus has increasingly shifted to the Humber as a means of reducing the risk of delays at the Port of Dover.
In fact, bosses at ABP said earlier this year the Humber had already seen an increase in port traffic, as shipping firms and exporters alike look for alternatives to the south coast.
Since 2017, the number of shipping services between Hull, Immingham and European ports has increased by almost a third.
Port operator ABP, which manages docks in Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Immingham, has now commissioned a study with the University of Hull to look at the impact of exporting through the Humber.
It found companies in Leeds, Doncaster and Manchester could see huge benefits from choosing the Humber over Dover.
As well as average journey-saving times of over five hours, moving just 10 per cent of cargo from Dover to the Humber could save around 100,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.
The report said: “In the time of Brexit uncertainty, there is a great awareness of the importance of resilience in supply chains.
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“The unbalanced high reliance on the southern Dover Strait routes is a vulnerability for supply chains exclusively using these routes. Disturbances or delays on this route can result in problems for time critical and low inventory supply chains.
“A better balance between the northern and southern ports will result in more resilient supply chains for the 海角视频 in general or for individual organisations that split their volume between the routes.”
The Humber region's location means it is ideally suited to supply trade routes to leading European countries including France, Germany, Poland and Italy.
It is hoped the new research will encourage cargo owners and those in the logistics sector to consider making greater use of the Humber.
The report also made reference to a French ferry workers strike which took place in June 2015.
The disruption lasted four days, caused a 30-mile queue of 4,600 lorries on the M20 near Dover, and cost the 海角视频’s economy £1bn.
The report raised concerns that Brexit could add similar pressure to the Port of Dover, and urged companies to consider the Humber instead.
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It said: “Reducing freight-related greenhouse gasses is an increasingly important consideration factor in logistics planning, and we expect the future development of freight services and infrastructure to reflect this.
“For industrial sites that are located roughly north of Derby and south of York, the use of the Humber ports (Hull and Immingham) for unitised freight trade with mainland Europe is an attractive option.
“The road journeys are generally significantly shorter due to the closer distance on the 海角视频 side, with a resulting very significant reduction in CO2 and related greenhouse gases.”
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Business Live's Hull & East Yorkshire journalist is Phil Winter, also the business editor at the Hull Daily Mail and Hull Live.
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