Uncertainty for British trucks in the case of ‘no deal’ Brexit
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The Daily Telegraph reports that British trucks will not be able to board ships in Dover in a “no deal” Brexit if they do not have the correct customs paperwork, following a deal between the Port of Calais and Channel shipping lines.
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, in comments to the Telegraph said Dover would be used as a “filter” for trucks looking to go to the continent, risking massive tailbacks and disruption if British business did not comply with pre-declaration requirements.
In January, Calais Ports boss Jean-Marc Puissesseau said there would be no extra delays at Calais or other French channel ports after the installation of number plate recognition (ANPR) technology and 100-acre lorry parks for customs inspections.
However, Burnett said while lorries with correct paperwork might run smoothly on reaching Calais, that was because those without would be stopped at Dover and “stacked” at Manston airfield or through the planned “Operation Brock”.
Among the requirements for shippers is to have an EU import-export registration, or EORI, number. However, Burnett said it was estimated that only “about 40pc” of British businesses that needed the numbers had applied for one.
