According to ferry company DFDS, 2017 was a record year largely due to the “continuing positive development” in volumes on its 10 freight routes across the North Sea.
However, according to CEO and President Niels Smedegaard, transport companies are beginning to experience some shortage in drivers as trips to the UK are not as attractive as they used to be following the fall of the pound in the wake of the Brexit vote.
“This has resulted in some freight forwarders changing from using trucks with drivers to just sending unaccompanied trailers on DFDS’ freight-only ships,” he explained.
Overall, DFDS’ North Sea freight volumes grew by 7% in 2017 and, in spite of the ongoing debates over Brexit, the company notes that the UK’s economy is still growing, and it is planning for this to continue at just over 1% in 2018.
To accommodate the expected volume growth over the coming years, DFDS has ordered four new mega ships with a capacity of 475 trailers each for the North Sea routes. The ships will be delivered from 2019 and onwards from the Jinling Shipyard in China.
“In spite of the challenges Brexit may lead to over the coming years,” Mr Smedegaard continued, “we can also see opportunities for providing our customers with new, valuable, customs clearance services after Brexit, should customs clearance become necessary.”
His company is located in the ports and already has experience in dealing with these issues as a result of its UK to Norway service, he pointed out.
