News

Peel Ports Group (PPG), which runs the Port of Liverpool, is promising to spend £4m on the terminal - and many CM readers say the cash can't come too soon because conditions there have deteriorated badly over the past couple of years. Many are now saying delays at the port are costing them valuable time and money. Just over three weeks ago the Port of Liverpool was given the green light for a £90m expansion programme designed to double its container capacity by 2010. The government has described  it as "the most significant development for the Port of Liverpool" for 40 years.

The development will provide significantly more work for the logistics sector, but operators and drivers alike are still demanding immediate changes amid rising tension about the current state of the Seaforth container terminal. John McGarrie from McGarrie Transport says he is having to wait up to three hours when he delivers to the port he believes there aren't enough straddler drivers. He describes the situation as "chaotic" (see panel for more driver and operator opinions).

Surge in traffic

PPG says container operations have been affected by a 25% surge in traffic, following the four-day closure of the main access lock to the Royal Seaforth Terminal and the consequent backlog and bunching of ships and their cargos. It also admits that turnaround time for vehicles has been affected at peak times and says that steps are being taken under a £4m terminal enhancement  programme. PPG marketing director Frank Robotham says: "We understand the frustration caused to the haulage industry when problems arise, but it has our assurance that measures are being taken to resolve the situation. I am confident that over the next few months, our haulage customers will notice a significant improvement in cycle times during peak periods."

The port claims that turnaround times for trucks have averaged 50 minutes over the past week. Disgruntled drivers dispute this, saying this time is measured from when the vehicle enters the container part of the docks until it comes out - not taking into account the paperwork and the time spent queuing outside. Another issue brought up by a driver who wishes to remain anonymous is the lack of driver facilities: "When queuing up to sort out paperwork we're treated worse than cattle. The waiting space is tiny, it only has one toilet and the ventilation makes it unbearable sometimes." PPG has promised CM that it will review these facilities.

Having spoken to angry drivers and operators at the port and seen the situation first-hand, it is clear the problems they complain of are real. PPG says it takes operators' needs seriously and that measures are being put in place to resolve some of the issues. This cannot happen overnight - but PPG would be well advised to act soon, before operators are forced to consider how much business they can afford to do through Liverpool docks.

According to PPG, the £4m terminal enhancement programme includes:

• additional plant - three straddle carriers have been added to the terminal fleet in recent weeks, following four additions last year
• l 20% more space for containers - this will be achieved by: integrating the former Coastal Container Terminal within the main deep-sea terminal providing an additional 1,000 ground slots and commissioning eight more interchange bays for road haulage
• paving an area to create hard standing for 3,000 empty containers, freeing up additional space in the main container park
• additional staff and equipment on the night shift
• l adjustments to hours of operation and manning

PPG'S response to the straddler situation:

"We have a current total of 38 machines and more are to be ordered. At any one time a percentage of the fleet is out of service for maintenance. Carriers can also be out of service for attention following breakdowns."

A local operator's opinion:

"[The situation] is affecting business in a big way. It's been this bad for a couple of years now. Straddlers are just stood unused. The 2pm shift change is a joke. The whole infrastructure is going to have to change - management is to blame."

Local drivers' opinions:

"You can't make a living here like you used to. People are getting up earlier and earlier in the morning just to beat the queues. For 8am deliveries, some are coming in at 4.30am."

"In my opinion the port did it the wrong way round... it took on more work without having the space, machines and manpower. At times the trucks are queuing in 14 lanes with eight wagons per lane. Once that's full they direct you to a waiting area down the road."

"I've worked here for 20 years and can say that in the past year it has gone really downhill. A reasonable turnaround would be 45 minutes, but it often takes around 3½ hours - two on a good day. Every haulage company is at a disadvantage - no haulier is benefiting at the moment."

A second driver adds: "The past six months it has been a lot worse, but I can't say exactly why. When boats come in, the wagons just grind to a halt. This is down to manpower - if you get more than one boat in at a time it's really bad. There's a rumour around that there's a shortage of straddler drivers. But they don't really tell us anything."

This driver also highlighted the shift change problems: "Between 1.40pm and 2.20pm nothing really moves."