Member Article

Shipping report shows Humber following in the wake of the Channel

A new report on UK shipping, just released, has revealed that eastern Channel routes are likely to build on their dominance in serving European trade, despite the Humber’s continued prominent role.

Overall, the report reveals the combined Humber ports of Hull, Immingham and Killingholme hold 13.4% of the total UK capacity market share for short sea capacity.

This places the Humber just ahead of EuroTunnel, but lagging behind Dover, which tops the table for 2014 with 26.5% of the short sea capacity.

The UK Short Sea Freight RoRo and LoLo Capacity Analysis and Report for 2013/2014, from PRB Associates, shows that Channel services, including Channel Tunnel services now represent 44% of the total UK short sea market capacity.

Peter Baker, managing director of the Grimsby-based consultancy, said: “There are clear indications that capacity handled and market share will increase still further at ports such as Dover, and at EuroTunnel, especially when the impact of low sulphur fuel legislation kicks in from 2015 in the North Sea and Channel.

“This trend could also take critical mass away from future ‘PortCentric’ development at other UK ports.”

The 144-page report focuses on UK short sea unit load capacity, including individual routes, service and vessels.

While the Channel appears to be full steam ahead, the report highlights the ‘minimal’ short sea capacity supply growth in the near European market sectors served by non-Channel ports since 2000, and an actual decline in capacity in the UK’s Scandinavian and Baltic market connections.

“This situation is in sharp contrast to capacity growth of 34 per cent on the short Channel crossings since 2000, also implying a greater dependence on the accompanied trailer mode as the preferred mode to serve the UK market,” added Mr Baker.

There were some bright spots for the Humber ports, including Immingham, which has strengthened its position handling short sea capacity in the Scandinavian and Baltic market.

The Humber Sea Terminal at Killingholme, meanwhile, has retained its premier position for ferry capacity serving the Near Continental market, which it gained from Harwich in 2012.

Now in its thirteenth year, the in-depth report looks at the likely impact on the relative cost of short sea capacity following the introduction of the new low sulphur fuel limit, and provides indicative incremental costs per nautical miles travelled for a range of strategic routes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .