Join us on a Coastlink cruise
The Coastlink Liverpool conference takes place on
15/16 June and for many, the highlight will be a cruise from Liverpool Pier
Head to Salford Quays in Manchester while delegates engage in a series of
workshops and then discuss conclusions. The UK's Shipping Minister, Mike
Penning MP, will be on board the Mersey ferry Royal Daffodil and will
address delegates before the workshops begin.
Only slightly shorter than the Panama Canal, the
Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894 and allowed ocean-going vessels to sail
right into the heart of Manchester. It only began to decline in the 1970s when
containerisation produced a steady escalation in ship size and Manchester Docks
finally closed in 1982. Some berths at the seaward end of the Canal, primarily
handling liquid products, have remained in use and now the current owner, Peel
Ports, is well advanced with its plans to return traffic to Manchester with new
facilities suitable for containers at Salford Quays.
Shippers are expected to be well-represented at this
conference as Liverpool is a major logistics centre and the heart of many
companies' supply chain networks, serving as it does a hinterland of about 7.5
million people. One key subject to be discussed will be the desirability of
closer collaboration between shippers to consolidate volumes, so making their
traffic more interesting to shortsea, barge and rail operators.
Geographically there will be a bright spotlight
shining on Ireland and Iberia, strong trades for the Port, and on reefer
transportation. North-West England is traditionally a major food producer and
the availability of temperature-controlled transport is crucial. The need for
efficiency in the supply chain is paramount and intermodal transport must fight
hard to win business away from the road operators.
While Royal Daffodil provides the venue for
Day One, Liverpool's Maritime Museum is the chosen location for Day Two. While
Royal Daffodil provides the venue for Day One, Liverpool's Maritime Museum is
the chosen location for Day Two.
Full details of the programme and how to register can
be found on www.coastlink.co.uk.
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