A ferry company awarded a £14 million contract for shipping services in a no deal Brexit scenario is unlikely to be ready by the time Britain leaves the EU in March.
According to the Financial Times, senior government officials believe Seaborne Freight is unable to provide an alternative shipping route for transporting goods in the event of the Dover port of entry congested by delays brought on by a no deal Brexit.
Local authorities said they are still in “discussions” with Seabourne Freight over its potential to establish a freight route, despite local mayor of Ostend Bart Tommelein telling the Financial Times that it would be "impossible" for new freight routes to be established by 29 March.
Thanet District Council said it is working on re-establishing ferry services at the Port of Ramsgate and is "currently in discussions with a potential operator, Seaborne Freight, to establish a freight operation from Ramsgate to Ostend."
Seaborne Freight declined to comment when contacted by the National.
One MP claimed that the contract offered to the company, which is yet to have any registered ships, could be “unlawful”.
"The Transport Secretary has awarded a £14 million contract to a company with no money, no ships, no track record, no employees, no ports, one telephone line and no working website or sailing schedule," said Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald.
"This is a shoddy and tawdry affair and the secretary of state is making a complete mess of it. This contract is very likely unlawful and violates every current best practice guidance issued by Whitehall.”
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Mr McDonald called on transport minister Chris Grayling to resign and accused the government of “gross incompetence”.
In a statement to parliament on Tuesday, Mr Grayling said:
“I make no apology for being willing to contract with a new British company, we contracted with Seaborne Freight as the service they propose represents a sensible contingency in the event of disruption on other routes."
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'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
RESULTS
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
