“So the onus is to some extent on the media to draw attention to some of the more critical issues. They should put more pressure on the EC to ask what is being done on these strategic planning and development issues. I don’t see the media asking these questions.
“Some of the dialogue we’ve had with the European Shippers Council, ” concludes Appleton, “away from the usual hot potato of anti-trust immunity and conferences, has the potential to be very constructive, since we ultimately have the same interests.
During these discussions we have agreed on the need for more dialogue between us in terms of enabling some of this essential growth in terminal capacity to take place.
Our shippers have to satisfy the demand of getting goods to market and if these goods are going to continue to be globally sourced, they will continue to look to the carriers for a solution.
The whole process has a high degree of mutual dependency. Therefore all those involved in the transport chain need to confer, discuss and communicate their future needs so as the facilities can be put in place.
This is the kind of debate the trade press can assist in encouraging and these are the kind of questions shipping journalists need to start asking.”
