BPA calls for Brexit reassurances

In a letter, Richard Ballantyne, the BPA’s chief executive, said that new administrative processes for trade, in particular for hauliers and those in the logistics chain, could have significant effects for European-facing ports; that there currently exist about 30 UK government agencies or organisations able to undertake procedures at ports; and that it expected extra physical and digital infrastructure needs at the UK border to accommodate new arrangements after Brexit.

“It is critical that these agencies are prepared for a new Brexit regime and that the infrastructure required is in place in time,” Mr Ballantyne said.

“Last autumn’s Budget statement included significant funding for Brexit preparations and we are seeking your assurances that this will cover the resourcing of these physical facilities and not just additional staff, so as not to introduce further potential negative impacts on ports.”

According to the BPA executive, it will be important for freight and passenger checks occurring at the UK border to be kept to a minimum, with as much possible activity taking place away from ports, in order to truly realise the UK’s government’s goal of ‘frictionless trade’.

Mr Ballantyne said the BPA would also expect facilities required by border agencies to be shared in order for extra disruption or duplications of infrastructure being constructed to be prevented.

“We would welcome continued collaboration with your colleagues on this technical but important issue,” he told Mrs May.

The letter claimed that the broad range of UK ports and terminals that the BPA represents “in one form or another facilitate around 80% of the UK’s international trade”, with this including ports handling most of UK-Europe trade.

“Many of these are ro/ro ports and terminals which facilitate in excess of 10,000 lorry journeys between the UK and the EU each day, largely uninterrupted,” it said.