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Peel gets ready for Brexit

(Posted on 28/08/19)

Peel Ports Group, one of the UK’s leading port operators, has been officially accredited with the internationally recognised quality mark of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) at all its principal ports by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customers, affirming the Port’s efficient and robust processes to customers worldwide.

The Liverpool based port operator said that achieving AEO status from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs was a “significant milestone” especially on the path towards Brexit.

Peel Ports Group has successfully achieved AEO status for the following ports: Clydeport Operations Limited, Port of Sheerness Limited, The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Limited, The Manchester Ship Canal Company Limited’ and Great Yarmouth Port Company Limited.

The accreditation recognises that a business’ customs controls and procedures are efficient and meet EU benchmarks to safeguard goods passing through the international supply chain.

Peel Ports Group Chief Executive Mark Whitworth, said: “Securing AEO status across our ports is a significant milestone and allows us to continue trading as efficiently as possible with Europe. As a trusted partner to government agencies, these standards provide our customers with increased peace of mind that we are taking a business as usual approach. Crucially we now have the ability to minimise any dwell time across our network to avoid unnecessary disruption.

“While none of us know what a post Brexit environment will look like, we have taken assured steps to minimise any friction at our ports to keep our customers cargoes moving smoothly. Our UK port network is ideally positioned and has the relevant infrastructure to ensure we continue to trade successfully with Europe, the Americas and beyond.”

Peel Ports Group is the UK’s second largest port group, owning and operating six of the UK’s most important ports (Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal, Medway (Sheerness / Chatham), Clydeport and Great Yarmouth). It also operates a container terminal in Dublin and owns BG Freight Line, which provides short sea container services between the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and feeder services between the UK and Ireland.

Peel Ports handles 60 million tonnes of cargo every year. 13% of the total UK major ports traffic flows through ports operated by the Group. Headquartered in Liverpool, it employs around 1,600 staff, and had revenue of £760m and EBITDA of £266m for the year ended 31 March 2019.