Several RHA members in Northern Ireland have reported that ferry operator CLdN (formerly Seatruck) has introduced surcharges to hauliers using their services.
We understand they’ve launched a new system where operators using more than their standard booking allocations have to pay 100 percent surcharge on additional slots.
This follows the closure of Holyhead port.
Our members tell us that the allocated standard booking slots fall significantly short of average weekly shipping volumes to meet demand which effectively doubles the cost of essential shipping services. They further report that these surcharges are only being notified at the time of booking, providing no opportunity for strategic planning or alternative arrangements.
We are investigating this issue and will engage with key stakeholders as we are concerned about the strain of this pricing on the supply chain between GB and Northern Ireland, given the dominant position CdNL operates under via its routes between Warrenpoint/Dublin and Heysham, and Dublin and Liverpool.
If you have recently experienced issues regarding pricing of carriage of goods between NI and GB then please get in touch with our policy director, Martin Reid: m.reid@rha.uk.net
