The Humber ports are operating through the coronavirus storm, with special measures brought in to protect staff.
Operator ABP has pledged to do “everything it can to keep Britain trading”.
Unlike passengers, with a Europe-wide low-down in place, freight is not restricted.
Dafydd Williams, head of communications and corporate affairs for the company behind Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole’s huge quaysides, told how the ports are open for business, with a good flow of vessels coming in. He said: “As the 海角视频’s leading port operator with an important strategic role in supporting the nation’s supply chains, we will continue to monitor and provide updates on this dynamic situation in accordance with government advice.
“We would like to offer reassurance that ABP is taking all necessary steps to ensure the wellbeing of customers and employees and the safe continuation of operations.
“Across our ports, our teams are liaising with all relevant health authorities, statutory bodies, customers and other stakeholders to ensure we deliver the most appropriate and effective services.
“Our marine and operational teams are engaging with local port health authorities to ensure they have access to and understand the nature of any enhanced surveillance measures being undertaken by port health authorities.
“We will continue to do everything we can to keep Britain trading.”
Most Read
DFDS Seaways is the largest shipping operator on the Humber, with a huge base at Port of Immingham.
It employs more than 800 people, with specialist onward transport elements also operated from North East Lincolnshire.
Andrew Byrne, 海角视频 managing director, said: “We are sailing to our normal schedule and volumes seem to be largely unaffected, though that may be an issue of timing and lagging. It is not business as usual - we are in unprecedented circumstances, but the terminal is fully operational.
“We are following government guidance closely and many of our staff who are permanently office-based are working from home, we’ve made provision for that.
“We have also put in additional measures in terms of sanitation and ensuring separation of our people where we can. There are extra precautions for freight drivers when they travel, remaining isolated in cabins on the ship. “They are strong measures to try and protect people where we can.”
The vast majority of freight is unaccompanied, with vessels limited to 12 passengers.
In Hull, P&O’s Zeebrugge and Rotterdam services continue, though passenger mini-cruises have been suspended.
Don’t miss
The vessels carry fresh water, fruit and vegetables, medicines and other vital supplies across the North Sea.
Janette Bell, chief executive of P&O Ferries, said: "Our trucks, trains and ships are a vital part of Europe's transport infrastructure, supporting the economies of the countries in which we operate and businesses across the world.
"We sail 27,000 times a year between Britain, Ireland and Europe, carrying 2.3m pieces of freight. That’s 44,230 pieces of freight a week. Or, to put it another way, an awful lot of fresh water, fruit and vegetables, medicines and other vital supplies.
“Notwithstanding the current uncertainty, we are confident that our services will keep running.
"We’re doing everything we can to minimise the risks by intensifying the cleaning protocols on board our ships, switching from air conditioning to 100 per cent fresh air and working closely with Public Health England and maritime experts at the World Health Organisation to follow best practice on COVID-19.
“The support teams in our offices are working from home where possible and organising themselves into shift patterns so that no more than a third of employees are at their desks at any one time."
The firm has split its crew into teams, with a day shift and a night shift and the staff members are not allowed to mix.
It means if a crew member falls ill, the opposite shift should not have come into contact with him/her.
In the air Eastern Airways has cancelled a handful of daily flights across its recently re-launched network, with Monday’s Aberdeen to Birmingham service launch delayed until April 13.
Humberside Airport officials were not immediately available.