The North West ports operator, Peel Ports, is calling on the UK freight and logistics industry to switch more goods from South East landings to the Port of Liverpool to cut costs and bring down the carbon footprint of inland transportation to the North.
According to Peel Ports’ calculations, cargo owners can save up to £400 per container by altering supply chain routes when freight starts its journey in, or is bound for, the north of England.
The Cargo200 initiative aims to reduce freight mileage by 200 million miles over the next five years and has already won the backing of large brands such as Typhoo and B&M.
Peel Ports’ group commercial director, Patrick Walters said: ‘The reality is that 50% of demand for all UK cargo comes from the northern half of the UK, including Scotland and Ireland - not really surprising as 35 million people, including many in Ireland, live within 240km (150 miles) of Liverpool.
'The Port of Liverpool is strategically important as the most centrally located port in the UK. Yet only 8% of goods arrive in the UK through this route. That means the majority of cargo destined for the north currently has to be transported via road or rail, incurring hundreds of additional miles, burning fuel, creating road congestion and adding to carbon emissions and costs.'
The move is in time to capitalise on Peel Ports' new deep water container terminal, Liverpool2, planned for December.
'From our modelling, based on the journeys currently undertaken by these cargoes, it has been possible to project that at least 200 million road miles could be saved over the next five years. We are calling on cargo owners and operators to ‘act green’ and support this very important initiative,' Mr Walters added.
