I was in Leeds when the General Election was called, attending the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum to discuss the Industrial & Logistics property sector. The following day, I drove seventy miles east to Immingham Dock, part of Associated British Ports, where DFDS Seaways, a UKWA member company, had invited me to continue my nationwide tour of 80 warehouses.
Immingham has a rich history in warehousing. Its story began in 1906 when labourers excavated nearly four million cubic metres of earth to create the dock basin and the approach channel in the River Humber. In total, 55 million tonnes of cargo now pass through the Humber Estuary every year. DFDS’s operations at Immingham are crucial, with eight Ro-Ro berths handling over 30 sailings each week to and from Northern Europe and Scandinavia.
During my visit, we heard from Lucy Ottewell, the newly appointed CEO of a local charity Horizon, which is launching a Youth Zone for Grimsby and the surrounding area. The support of local businesses is vital for this venture, and DFDS showcased their backing, emphasising the importance of funding youth work, especially in Grimsby, parts of which have been ranked among the most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
After enlightening presentations from Andrew Byrne, MD of DFDS as well as the Horizon charity, our intrepid group of about fifteen guests were taken onboard one of DFDS Seaways’ most modern ferries. We toured the vessel, visited the bridge, and met the captain. The facilities for HGV drivers were impressive, with freshly prepared meals from the onboard chef, individual cabins with clean bedding, and access to hot showers. The daily crossing between Immingham and the Vlaardingen terminal in Rotterdam takes twelve hours.
One of DFDS’s key customers, the German chipboard manufacturer Pfleiderer Group, was represented by their Head of Transport, Gerhard Pusch. He was present to recognise DFDS’s investment in a new quayside warehouse. My name appears on a plaque alongside Gerhard Pusch and George Thompson, a long-standing DFDS employee. Together, we officially opened the new warehouse, which will play a critical role in the supply chain for laminated particle board and fibreboard, used by the construction industry.
As the General Election approaches, UKWA is renewing our call for a Logistics Minister. We are grateful for the ongoing support of members such as Associated British Ports and DFDS who are backing our Year of Warehousing campaign; and for the opportunity to get a glimpse inside the international supply chains of their customers, which are essential to the UK economy.
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