Catastrophe looms for ports after Brexit, shipping industry warns

Credit Paul Wishart Dreamstime.com

The International Chamber of Shipping has given an interview in today’s Guardian, in which it warns against a failure to introduce some sort of seamless customs system between the UK and Europe – ie, identical in almost every way to that which exists – when Brexit finally becomes a reality. Currently, non-EU trucks already have to go through a 20-minute clearance process when they arrive at Dover, but that can take up to an hour if there are VAT or other enquiries. “Multiply that by 8,000 a day (the number of lorries on a slow day) and you can see what happens. It is going to be an absolute disaster for the ports and for our sector as well.”