Freight by Water - Peter Ward
As businesses are forced to balance the trade-offs between lifestyle choices and cutting emissions as well as costs, the role of waterborne transportation has become increasingly important in forging sustainable supply chains for the future.
Freight by Water – agent for change
Modifying current distribution methods is critical to addressing climate change, given that freight transportation is a major contributor to C02 emissions, and the case for ‘modal shift’ is further strengthened, particularly for distribution of freight to, from and around the UK, by the impact of escalating fuel costs, underlining that road transport at current levels is simply unsustainable.
Compared to road transport, moving freight by water reduces congestion on UK roads, uses less fossil fuel per ton/kilometre than other transport modes, and substantially reduces the amount of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide released into the atmosphere.
Against a background of fuel prices set to double within the term of this government and UK natural gas prices likely to spiral too, the potential to shift, say, 80 lorry loads from the road to a single water freight journey on a 2,000 ton coaster is THREE times more fuel efficient, and consequently considerably more cost-effective! Water freight can no longer be considered the preserve of the movers of aggregates and other low value bulks; leading manufacturers and retailers in the consumer durables and FMCG sectors must recognise this and weigh the options.
With over 100 ports around the UK’s 12,000km coastline, linked to 500km of commercially navigable inland waterways, no UK location is more than 100km from access to the sea – and there are never any road works at sea, while congestion is also unheard of!
Given the compelling arguments for water freight as a viable and sustainable means of transport in and around the UK, it is surprising that the concept has thus far remained largely under developed. Apart from a few niche activities, and a small number of coastal feeder operations, there is a dearth of scheduled route networks with matching price matrices. In other words, there are no ‘packaged’ water freight logistics solutions currently available, and yet this cost-effective, environmentally friendly mode is fully capable of delivering frequent, reliable and easily accessible services.
To address this situation and build a viable network-centric logistics service, we must prove the business case around demand, and it will fall to end users, be they manufacturers or retailers, to drive this demand. Simply talking about lower carbon footprints whilst tinkering around the edges will not do – now is the time for action and change, if we are to make a real difference.
3pls have a role to play too. Those industry leaders prepared to make brave decisions will take their customers on this new journey, to the benefit of all.
Driving this change will be no easy task – especially as the water freight industry is highly fragmented. The water freight industry does not enjoy the massive subsidies of rail. Improvements and enhancements to infrastructure will be required, and authorities will need to relax archaic working regulations as momentum builds – but the good news is that the waterways are readily available and free to use, and ports are open for business.
As the designated agent for change, Freight by Water is committed to delivering significant modal shift in 2010 and beyond, bringing together all the key stakeholders to identify, promote and stimulate demand for water freight, removing barriers and pushing for action towards a sustainable solution.
Note: Freight by Water is a not for profit organisation which was established to promote increased use of short sea, coastal and inland waterways to encourage modal shift in the UK, delivering a range of economic and environmental benefits.
Peter Ward is Executive Director of Freight by Water. For further information, visit: www.freightbywater.org
Published: 14/06/2010
