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UK truckers turn to North Sea ports to avoid tricky channel crossings

ENGLISH Channel migrant disruptions at Calais and strikes French ferry workers have prompted use of North Sea ports on England's the east coast by British truckers.

P&O Ferries said it posted big increases in heavy goods vehicles crossing the North Sea to and from all three of its English east coast ports in July from Zeebrugge, reports Lloyd's Loading List.

The Hull-Zeebrugge route saw an 84 per cent year-on-year increase in July while the Tilbury-Zeebrugge route saw a 74 per cent increase. In total, P&O Ferries carried 2,518 heavy trucks across the North Sea during in July.

"Importers and exporters who have previously crossed to the continent via the Channel Tunnel are starting to look at longer routes from Teesport, Hull and Tilbury as a more reliable alternative," said P&O Ferries commercial director Janette Bell.

"Exporters know the value and time-sensitive nature of their deliveries, whether they are perishable goods or manufacturing components," she said.

"It is significant that they are now becoming increasingly aware of the alternative North Sea routes to the continent that we offer. As the British economy continues to grow, we expect to see more demand for services from Teesport, Hull and Tilbury," Ms Bell said.

Yorkshire forwarder Maru International said he was avoiding the Dover-Calais crossing "unless absolutely necessary" and favouring longer routes from more northerly English ports to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.

"We've always used these northerly ports for exports, but we are now using them for imports too," said Maru managing director Vaughan Woolfitt.

"There's just too much uncertainty around Calais - the prospect of trucks being stuck in queues, the fear of having trailers broken into by migrants and worrying about the well-being of drivers," he said.