Ken Hayes, UK business development manager for Peel Ports, said the move was prompted by “frequent demands from the trade” and adds that the port has reached “an advanced stage” in discussions with a number of lines. Further, following a trade conference in Mumbai, the Port of Liverpool has received commitment in excess of 45,000 teu per annum to the prospective service.
It looks like providing substantial cost savings. Mr Hayes, explains “If the cargo is brought directly to Liverpool it will bring about a saving of around £300 per container by way of handling, advantage of higher port efficiency and onward transport cost. And then there are clear environmental benefits.”
The latest figures from the UK’s DTI Economics & Statistics Directorate show that the total value of bilateral trade between the UK and India during 2006 was £8.7bn.
Ravi Gandhi, the Port of Liverpool’s representative in India, said: “Having been established in the shipping industry for decades, we share the view with many of our colleagues from within the Indian freight-forwarding community that a direct service between India and Liverpool would bring a large number of tangible benefits to respective ports and countries.
“The reduction in costs would not only provide a one-time saving but would also lead to more repeat business which would represent a real win-win situation for all.”