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Port chaos blamed on unforeseen factors'
Page 8
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CM COVER STORY
By Chris Tiruiah BAD WEATHER, a lack of staff and a vehicle striking the electricity supply led to long delays for container hauliers at Liverpool Port last week.
Despite a downturn in port production levels normally experienced during the pre-Christmas peak, a combination of unforeseen factors led to unrest among drivers who were left stranded in queues.
Owner-driver John MeGarrie estimates he was sitting in the docks for an entire day in total last week. and describes the scenes there as -pandemonium':
"Liverpool Docks is a disaster area," he complains. "It seems to be getting worse, [yet] the docks are quiet. I work for a shipping company and we have been on a three-day week. The port is not putting the staff on."
The Road Haulage Association's area manager Jeff Marriott says the problems are being resolved.
He adds: "We have spoken with the port and they are back on a more regular footing.
-The past few days have been disastrous, catastrophic, because of
special circumstances rather than its function."
A port spokesman says it is hiring more staff, increasing the number of straddles available and is committed to investing in GPS software to boost efficiencies.
He adds: "There were a number of unforeseen factors behind the delays, namely adverse weather, demand at the road terminal exceeding maximum physical supply and a vehicle hitting the electricity supply, which cut off all systems for more than two hours. We would like to thank all our customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused."