Industry News
Lower Thames Crossing could be ready by 2032
Clari fi cation regarding DG Training in UK BIFA has been highlighting non-compliance with IATA dangerous goods training requirements and wants to ensure that its Members are aware of, and comply with, the need to submit the requisite number of dangerous goods training certi fi cates via the IATA portal. The Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations places legal responsibility on the freight forwarder to ensure that staff receive initial and recurrent dangerous goods training in accordance with the requirements of the ICAO Technical Instructions. Once training has been completed, certificates must be uploaded to the IATA Customer Portal (https://portal.iata.org/s/lo gin/?language=en_US). If certificates are not uploaded, consignments of dangerous goods submitted for carriage will be refused. All training for individuals in the UK must be compliant regulations. When selecting a training organisation, you must ensure that any training meets the CAA criteria; this will then be accepted by IATA. with UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA)
Denise Hill, Member engagement director, Member regional chair Scott Baker of Uniserve, and regional consultant Paul Newman were delighted to visit the Dartford crossing last month to witness its day-to- day operation and discuss the development of the Lower Thames Crossing project. Our thanks to Stephen Taylor, head of external affairs and the National Highways team who hosted the event and provided some insightful discussion and fascinating facts, some of which are: • The crossing was originally designed for 135,000 vehicle crossings per day but now regularly carries 150,000, with peaks at over 180,000. vehicles are freight related. • Less than 1% of journeys are local commuters, limiting the available workforce. • The south–north direction of • More than 60% of these travel is significantly busier due to the number of freight vehicles from the Channel ports. • The western tunnel must be used for oversize or dangerous cargo, and traffic is stopped every 15 minutes to allow these vehicles to be escorted. • Journey times are highly unpredictable – it is the
Scott Baker, Denise Hill and Paul Newman at the Dartford Crossing
A computer-generated image of the Lower Thames Crossing
will double capacity with a tunnel large enough to take three lanes of traffic in each direction. It is estimated that this crossing would add £40 billion to the UK economy, delivering significant benefits to cross- Channel trade and economic stability. The cost of current congestion for UK freight is believed to be in the region of £130 million per day. The preferred route would run from the M25 J29 east across to the A13 and on under the Thames to the A2/M2 junction. A Development Consent Order is being sought from government, with a decision expected in October 2024. Finance for the £9 billion project is yet to be agreed but, if successful, a planned opening would be in 2032.
worst performing part of the UK’s strategic network. The future solution is the 14.5-mile Lower Thames Crossing, which it is envisaged
The Limits of Liability for Carriers
In association with
By air – Warsaw Convention (17 SDR): £17.70 per kg
By sea – Hague Visby rules (2 SDR): £2.08 per kg £694.22 per package
BIFA STC: (2 SDR): £2.08 per kg
By road – CMR (8.33 SDR): £8.67 per kg
Insurance for the Marine & Logistics industries
(The SDR rate on 15 August 2024,
By air – Montreal Convention (22 SDR): £22.91 per kg
according to the IMF website, was 1.04132)
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September 2024 | 7
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