The task force set up to secure Holyhead Port’s future and help ensure the disruption caused by storm Darragh last year is not repeated, has invited Logistics UK on board.
The port, which is on the island of Anglesey in North Wales, was closed after one of its ferry berths suffered damage during the storm in December, which brought winds of up to 78mph.
It partially opened a month after the closure and prompted criticism from hauliers and a demand for a clear timeline about when its second berth would reopen.
The task force is now examining the disruption that was caused and identifying ways to minimise similar issues in the future.
Josh Fenton, Logistics UK policy manager and policy lead for Wales, said: “The closure of Holyhead at the start of this year caused significant friction for the movement of goods between GB and the island of Ireland, at a time when the smooth movement of freight was essential.
“Our industry is flexible and adaptable, and at the time, identified alternative ways to deliver for customers on both sides of the Irish Sea, but the delays experienced then and subsequently have placed the supply chain under pressure that needs to be avoided moving forwards.”
The Welsh government’s cabinet secretary for economy, energy and planning, Rebecca Evans, said reliable transport connections across the Irish Sea were vital for economic prosperity:
“This group will proactively build on the successful collaboration we saw following the recent enforced ferry berth closures and help ensure our ports can adapt to changing conditions, continuing to support businesses and jobs in coastal communities and beyond,” she added.
