FEATURE
Incoming – PD Ports has pledged an ongoing programme of major investment to continue enabling cargo to transit smoothly and efficiently .
Link – an innovative partnership with Europe ’ s largest port , Port of Rotterdam , means new systems and technology at Teesport are streamlining trade with the EU .
“ For many businesses ... using Teesport further reduces the risk of supply chain disruption .”
“ Again , Teesport offers solutions with state-of-the-art facilities capable of storing a wide variety of cargoes on a costeffective basis .
“ As a pioneer in portcentric logistics , we also have a strong track record in developing new warehousing facilities tailored to meet customers ’ changing operational needs .”
Of course , government also has an essential role to play in boosting supply chain resilience .
There is now evidence that the government is focused on the challenge and PD Ports has welcomed initiatives including plans for the ‘ Single Trade Window ’, part of the government ’ s ‘ Future Border Strategy ’, that will use technology to make trading across borders easier .
Working with industry , the government has also created a ‘ Future of Freight Plan ’ that aims to make end-to-end freight journeys more efficient and reliable with greater resilience built into the system .
“ These are undoubtedly strong foundations to build on and it must be hoped that the government will do that ,” said Geoff .
“ By way of illustration , enabling businesses to use alternative routes for moving goods in and out of the UK , either on a contingency basis or as part of a wider diversification strategy , requires transport links to ports that are absolutely fit-for-purpose .
“ That may , in turn , require a greater emphasis on supply chain resilience within the decision-making processes that guide future public investment in transport infrastructure .
“ Nonetheless , there is a strong case for embedding supply chain resilience across a much wider spectrum of government policy and decision-making .”
It is clearly safest , then , for the government to base its approach on the assumption that the scale and gravity of the supply chain challenge facing the UK will increase over time .
However , the effectiveness of the government ’ s response might still be undermined by disagreements about the scale of the challenge or the perennial temptations of short-term expediency , often manifested in an aversion to cost .
In respect of the latter , it is useful to recall that while investing in resilience does have a cost , the cost of failing to invest in resilience can be far , far higher , concludes Geoff . “ The experience of the pandemic and the global events that continue to unfold before us suggest this is a lesson we can no longer afford to ignore ,” he added .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 57