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44 tonnes for ports?
Page 11
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by Rob Willock • Intermodal operators of 44 tanners could be travelling to and from ports next year. An extension to the current concession for 44-ionners operating from railheads to ports is expected from the Department of Transport by the end of the year.
The move is backed by the British Ports Association and is expected to encourage environmentally friendly transport.
BPA director David Whitehead says: "We say the concession should be extended to include transport to ports as well. This would also have a positive environmental effect. If containers were fuller, fewer journeys would have to be made by lorriesand ferries."
Whitehead admits that distances to ports are likely to be longer than those to railway stations for most operators. But nevertheless he argues that sea freight is at an unfair disadvantage to rail freight.
He adds: "It would serve us just as well if the general 38tonne limit was raised to 44 tonnes to create a level playing field. We've got nowhere so far, 'though. We keep hearing that the government is going to wait and see how well the rail concession works, but they have had two years to do that."
Currently, 44-tontiers may only operate when taking a con
tamer or swap-body to or from a railway station on the road leg of an intermodal journey.
Owner-driver Eddie Ablett believes neither rail nor ports should have a competitive advantage. He says: "It should all be the same for all, equal competition. You will never please everybody. At the moment the ferries say they can't compete.
"The issue could be be cleared up very easily by introducing a European standard. That is what this is about— introducing a level playing field for everyone—rather than one group or country having better rules."
E Forth Ports is in control of the Port of Dundee after the Government accepted a £10 million bid. The Scottish port operator defeated a Dundee and Clyde-port management consortium offer to win DTI and DOT approval. This follows Forth Ports' recent acquisition of the port of Tilbury for an estimated 12131m.
And Calais businessmen will seek a controlling interest in a privatised Port of Dover, according to the Calais chamber of commerce. MO hopes to do the same, to protect its own commercial interest, says a spokesman, but is against privatisation in general.