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Reuters
4 ferry corporations have landed authorities contracts price a complete of £77.6m to supply post-Brexit freight capability.
Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O Ferries and Stena Line may have the job of guaranteeing medical provides and different important items proceed to get to the UK.
The federal government says it needs a easy stream of freight “regardless of the end result of negotiations with the EU”,
The contracts shall be in place for as much as six months after the Brexit transition interval ends on 31 December.
The extra capability shall be on quieter ferry routes between mainland Europe and UK ports in Felixstowe, Harwich, Hull, Newhaven, Poole, Portsmouth, Teesport and Tilbury.
Final yr, the federal government paid ferry corporations £87m for comparable contracts, which weren’t wanted in the long run as a result of Brexit was postponed.
One in every of final yr’s contracts, price £13.8m, was paid to Seaborne Freight, an organization which had by no means run a ferry service. Seaborne Freight lately went bust.
The transport secretary on the time, Chris Grayling, confronted calls to resign over the Seaborne debacle.
His successor, Grant Shapps, stated: “Because the transition interval involves an finish, we’re placing the mandatory measures in place to safeguard the sleek and profitable stream of freight.
“Securing these contracts ensures that regardless of the result of the negotiations, life-saving medical provides and different crucial items can proceed to enter the UK from the second we go away the EU.”