BPA to conduct connectivity review

(Posted on 31/07/20)

The British Ports Association is launching a major new review of UK port connectivity. This work will highlight to government and local authorities where post-Coronavirus investment in infrastructure can be concentrated in order to maximise economic growth and speed up the recovery. This will look at infrastructure outside of ports such as road and rail links but also broadening out to assess energy and digital capabilities.

The BPA is inviting ports to submit an inventory of required external improvements to connectivity infrastructure. This will be used to examine the progress made since the Department for Transport’s English Port Connectivity Study two years ago; broadening this out to all ports around the UK, as well as looking at digital connectivity, energy capacity, in addition to transport needs.

COVID-19 has demonstrated the resilience of the UK supply chain – as ports worked efficiently through the pandemic and kept the nation supplied, despite the economic downturn taking a toll on the sector, as it did with many others. However, now more than ever, it is critical to consider where government investment can be targeted to unlock growth and provide a boost to the economy. The BPA will be laying out the inventory of works before government to show how we can build a Britain stronger than ever before.

UK ports are commercially managed, operating strategically and financially independent of Government. With very few exceptions, UK port infrastructure investments are privately financed; investments are market-led and £1.7bn is currently in the pipeline around the UK. Ports ask for very little from the Government but do rely on public investment in external infrastructure to stay competitive.

Phoebe Warneford-Thomson, Policy and Economic Analyst at the British Ports Association, who is leading the Review, said; “At a time when the government needs to stimulate significant growth to rebuild from the economic crisis, the decision to invest in infrastructure is straight forward. Infrastructure investment of 1% of GDP has a multiplier effect which can lead to an increase of 2.6% in GDP over four years.

Studies have shown that if the UK fails to bring infrastructure up to the standard of other developed economies, this could create an annual loss to the economy of £90 billion by 2026; so, in reality, the UK cannot afford not to invest in infrastructure.

The BPA has previously welcomed the government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda, but now we ask that they consider how to bring ports into this, especially given their economic significance in coastal communities.

We are inviting ports to send us an inventory of required public infrastructure improvements and upgrades, so we can highlight to the government where investment should be focused. These upgrades can relate to transport and digital connectivity, as well as other infrastructure requirements, such as increasing energy capacity in local networks, which will be key to facilitating Britain’s transition to net-zero by 2050.”

The UK’s motorway and trunk roads networks are managed by the various parts of central Government around the country, while local roads are owed and funded by local authorities. These last mile connections are often essential to ports but not always treated in a strategic way. Improved and increased rail access to the national network is also sought by many in the ports sector.

As the country moves towards net zero, electrification of infrastructure is becoming essential and separately as ports embrace the smart and invocation agendas they will need to be better connected digitally.

This exercise is open to all UK ports and terminals and it closes on 7 September.

Latest News

Hamburg bulks show mixed trends

Throughput of bulk cargo at the Port of Hamburg has experienced a slight recovery over the course of... Read more

LAR in Angola reinforces transport capacity with new wagons

The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) has taken an important step this week towards strengthening its transport... Read more

ABP’s Port of Hull welcomes two new build Eco Traders

The Port of Hull recently welcomed two new eco-friendly vessels built for charterer Ahlmark Lines AB... Read more

Port of Detroit awarded $24m by EPA for climate-friendly upgrades

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a historic move toward green infrastructure, has... Read more

Viterra signs deal with ABP in the Humber

Associated British Ports (ABP) and Viterra, one of the world leading grain marketers, have announce... Read more

New Managing Director at TBA Doncaster

From 1st November, TBA’s Doncaster division has a change of leadership.Responsible for the bulk... Read more

Port of Vancouver USA grant to deploy and expand clean energy infrastructure

The Port of Vancouver USA has announced it has been awarded a $22.5 million grant by the U.S. Environmental... Read more

ABP acquires land to fuel future growth

Associated British Ports (ABP) has acquired 21 acres of land on the western side of the Port of Immingham... Read more

MoU to explore development of Vietnam’s ports, logistics and maritime sectors

Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s leading private companies, and AD Ports Group, a diversified, global... Read more

HH-WIN approval provides security for expansion in Hamburg port area

Following an important decision by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs in Berlin and the Federal... Read more