In a statement, P&O said it has suffered severe terminal congestion in all of its East Coast UK ports since January as a result of excessive import unit dwell.
In a message to customers, the ferry operator added:
We do appreciate and understand the difficulties that our valued customers have experienced due to customs clearance delays, and of even more concern to us all now is the driver shortage impact on collections and deliveries.
According to P&O, the unit import dwell has created safety concerns for its operational teams and that of drivers, as well as slower Gate In and Gate Out turnaround times.
In order to keep its commitment to provide “above industry standard turnaround times” P&O stresses unit import dwell needs to come down in all of its terminals.
Therefore, as of September 1st, the import free days will reduce from 6 to 4 days.
The company adds that further changes may have to be made if the situation does not improve:
If this still does not improve the dwell we are experiencing then further changes will need to be made. We politely request that attention is given to your own planning in order to support us, and that shipment sailing requirements are matched with clearance and firm collection dates.
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