The port situation is gradually getting back on track after Brexit
No traffic, no delays.Dover, the British port city closest to the European continent, welcomed the first day after Britain left the European Union peacefully in morning fog on Monday.
On January 1, 2021, the UK formally leaves the European single market and the EU customs union.Under the future relationship agreement reached just before Christmas last year, there will be physical checkpoints at the border between the UK and the EU, with the exception of Northern Ireland, and goods coming in and out will be subject to new customs procedures and checks.
The port of Dover, an important border crossing between Britain and Europe, used to handle the customs clearance of about 10,000 lorries a day.Concerns have been raised about whether the new customs clearance will lead to congestion and delays, and whether Dover will be "overrun" with cars.There were no signs of delays or congestion in Dover on Monday.But those in the freight industry warn that the lull may prove temporary, and that could change as traffic picks up after the New Year holiday.
Rob Holliman, director of Youngs Transport and Logistics in the UK, said his company had deliberately delayed shipments for fear of border congestion on the first day of Brexit by not taking any goods across the border during the first week of the New Year."I don't want to have my car stuck on the road and risk a two-mile line in both directions," he said. "I'll make a judgment based on the first week."
Under the new rules, Britons who visit the continent for up to 90 days will still not need a visa, but they will have to confirm that their passport is less than 10 years old and valid for at least six months.In addition, it is better to buy travel insurance that covers health insurance;When traveling with a pet, make sure the pet is vaccinated and has an animal health certificate 10 days before the trip.
Some in the industry are also privately sceptical that Britain's customs infrastructure will be in place by the government's planned launch date and believe inspections may fall short.For now, the biggest headache is that some truck drivers arrive without the necessary tests for the coronavirus, or without the necessary customs documents to enter EU ports.This is the main reason for their deportation until they can meet these two requirements, although so far the scale of the problem has been manageable.
The problem is said to be most pronounced at ports such as Dover, Poole, New Haven and Portsmouth, which provide ports connecting to France and the Channel Tunnel service.
"Fortunately, the market is still very calm," said one port authority official. "But that doesn't mean things are suddenly going to get worse, but it's a good time to start a new policy.Probably before the end of the month, volumes will return to normal levels."
The British Ports Association (BPA) has released a statement outlining its agenda for the coming year, centred on sustainable growth and promoting port value.Chief executive Richard Ballantyne noted that the combination of Brexit and the latest nationwide lockdown caused by the outbreak was a daunting challenge.He said: "However, while there has been a clear change in the operators handling EU freight, the effects that have affected the UK and global economies over the past year suggest there could be a rebound in 2021.In the short term, keeping the shipping industry resilient and ports open may mean that port workers should take a back seat to health workers, the clinically vulnerable and the elderly for the Novel Coronavirus vaccine."
