A UK shipping agent says Far East timber importers are strengthening their green credentials by using its forwarding service instead of transporting timber by road.
Liverpool-based Interbrit Shipping Ltd, agent for the Clydeport Feeder Service from Southampton, says several importers have drastically reduced their road mileage by taking the sea route.
Managing director Les Ferguson, said: “Money is the first and foremost reason for using the service but there’s this additional benefit in that it’s good for your green credentials.”
He said three Far East timber importers had been using the twice-weekly service from Southampton to Manchester and Greenock, with a total of about 20 40ft containers of timber being transported monthly. Interbrit is hoping to entice other importers into booking slots.
Timbmet is using the service to transport products such as sawn and machined Indonesian/Malaysian meranti to its Glasgow operation.
Timbmet Silverman shipping manager Roger Keep said: “There is the green aspect in that cargo is going by sea rather than by road. But an additional feature is cost, as the cost of hauling from Southampton to Glasgow, where the majority of our containers end up, is unbelievably high.”
Clydeport operates two small container vessels on the service, which is mostly used by deep sea lines bringing in products for the likes of Littlewoods and Reebook, who are anxious to take as many container moves off the roads as possible.
