CITY REGION TO HOST INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS CONFERENCE WHICH WILL SHAPE EU POLICY
The UK city of Liverpool has hosted a major international conference concerning logistics infrastructure and the European Commission’s £1+billion Motorways of the Sea initiative. ‘Motorways of the Sea’ is designed to streamline and promote new intermodal maritime-based logistics chains across Europe.
The city was selected to host the event thanks to both its historic prominence as one of the world’s great ports, plus the opportunities being opened up by the current £1 billion Superport-related investments in logistics facilities across the city region.
The conference took place in late May, and attracted hundreds of delegates from ports and shipping bodies across Europe, Commission policy makers, plus UK businesses and academics keen to get the latest information on EU funding and policy developments relating to the Motorways of the Sea programme, plus forge new international links.
The keynote addresses included former Deputy Prime Minister and Ship’s Steward, Lord Prescott. Technical sessions showcased learning and solutions from 20 EU-funded projects, and highlighted key issues to be addressed via future EU policy and funding. Lord Prescott said: “Like me, Liverpool has the sea in its blood and I am very pleased to be involved in this event. I applaud the city’s renaissance linked to this vitally important sector, and look forward to sharing my own vision for enhanced multimodal connectivity along the corridor from Liverpool–Hull as critical gateways to markets in Ireland, Northern Europe and beyond, with the economic benefits this will bring.”
The conference is further evidence of the growing stature of Liverpool in the fiercely competitive logistics market as a key driver of international trade.
SUPERPORT
Liverpool is an integrated cluster of multi-modal logistics assets and expertise that will deliver faster, cheaper, greener post- Panamax global market access for trade to and from the northern UK and Ireland, with the potential to create up to 20,000 jobs over the next ten years.
Superport Liverpool provides rapid reach to a market of 35 million people within a 150-mile radius, stretching from the Port of Liverpool along the Manchester Ship Canal and the extensive northern UK road and rail network, encompassing two airports, Britain’s manufacturing heartland, three Enterprise Zones, and the highest density of warehousing in the UK.
Superport Liverpool is already undergoing £1+ billion intermodal infrastructure investment, and from 2016 the new deep-water Liverpool2 terminal will be able to service 95% of the world’s largest ships, opening up faster supply chain transit for at least 50% of the existing UK container market.
The Liverpool City Region is home to some of the world’s leading maritime, logistics, energy, retail and manufacturing operations — ACL, Bibby Group, Cammell Laird, Cargill, CMA CGM, Dong Energy, General Motors, Iberdrola, Ineos, Jaguar Land Rover, Maersk, NSG Pilkington, QVC, Stobart,TJ Morris, Unipart, Unilever — which continue to invest here, providing optimal commercial opportunities, expertise and skilled workforce in terms of efficient, low-cost, international freight distribution.