Government funding a lifeline for GB-NI sea freight

Friday 24 April 2020

In response to the news today (24 April 2020) that the government is to provide £17 million in funding to safeguard Northern Ireland-Great Britain ferry routes during the Covid-19 pandemic, Seamus Leheny, Policy Manager for Northern Ireland at FTA, comments: 

“The government’s decision to provide financial support to safeguard key GB-NI ferry routes is key to securing the future of sea freight on the Irish Sea, and provides welcome reassurance for GB-NI supply chains, so that they can remain fully functional throughout the Covid-19 outbreak. Ferries are an essential tool in making sure supplies of critical goods keep moving but like many other sectors, have been hit hard by the outbreak.  Today’s recognition of the crucial importance of sea freight to the NI and GB economies cannot be underestimated and the desperately needed funding will reinforce these key ferry routes. 

“At FTA we are also pleased to see the government subsequently announced a broader package of support measures for routes between the UK and mainland Europe to help protect the nation’s supply chains during this pandemic.” 

FTA is one of the UK’s leading business organisations, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and the more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.  With Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. FTA supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.