PD Ports portcentric logistics moves into its second phase

PD Ports, which introduced portcentric logistics into the UK, says the concept is now well-established and moving into its second phase.

The port company, owners of Teesport, Hartlepool and various other port facilities, is once again showing leadership in the strategy by placing greater focus on delivering the portcentric benefits to small and medium sized companies.

Helene Lyall, Sales & Marketing Manager, PD Ports, told delegates to the Freight By Water Conference in Middlesbrough today that it is not only PD Ports’ larger customers, such as Tesco and Walmart*ASDA, which are benefitting from the strategy.

The specialist tea and coffee company Taylors of Harrogate has just agreed to import 100% of its products through PD Ports’ Teesport after a successful trial proved that using facilities specially provided for them on the port was both highly efficient and cost-effective.

"We have the experience and expertise to help the small and medium-sized companies set up at Teesport, whether they need their own specialised warehousing, such as Taylors, or if their business needs are better suited to sharer user distribution centres," says Ms Lyall.

In the past, when goods were imported, they would be taken straight from the port to one or two distribution centres many miles inland and then redistributed from there.

Portcentric logistics works on the principle that it is faster, more cost-effective and certainly more environmentally friendly to set up a distribution centre at the port(s) and distribute directly to the local region from there.

PD Ports says the environmental benefits of portcentric logistics are well-established. It has also launched Logical Link, a dedicated shortsea feeder service from Felixstowe to Teesport, to ensure freight travels a little as possible by road.