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Grayling defends no-deal Brexit ferry contract | Grayling defends no-deal Brexit ferry contract |
(35 minutes later) | |
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has defended the government's choice of a UK company with no ships as one of the providers of extra ferry services in the event of a no-deal Brexit. | Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has defended the government's choice of a UK company with no ships as one of the providers of extra ferry services in the event of a no-deal Brexit. |
Mr Grayling told the BBC he would make no apologies for "supporting a new British business". | Mr Grayling told the BBC he would make no apologies for "supporting a new British business". |
The firm, Seaborne Freight, won a £13.8m contract to run a freight service between Ramsgate and Ostend. | The firm, Seaborne Freight, won a £13.8m contract to run a freight service between Ramsgate and Ostend. |
But a BBC investigation discovered it had never run a ferry service before. | But a BBC investigation discovered it had never run a ferry service before. |
Mr Grayling told the Today programme that the government had "looked very carefully" at the business. | Mr Grayling told the Today programme that the government had "looked very carefully" at the business. |
"We have put in place a tight contract to make sure they can deliver for us," he added. | "We have put in place a tight contract to make sure they can deliver for us," he added. |
The contract award notice, which has been published online, reveals that the tender process took place "without prior publication of a call for competition". | The contract award notice, which has been published online, reveals that the tender process took place "without prior publication of a call for competition". |
It states that the limited process was due to "a situation of extreme urgency" in the run-up to the UK's EU departure date. | It states that the limited process was due to "a situation of extreme urgency" in the run-up to the UK's EU departure date. |
The document shows that the contract received a single bid, from Seaborne Freight. | The document shows that the contract received a single bid, from Seaborne Freight. |
The Road Haulage Association (RHA), which represents firms bringing freight to and from UK ports, said its members were worried about how their trucks will get across the Channel. | |
Seaborne Freight will need to "source ferries, hire and train staff and link with relevant authorities", according to Rod McKenzie, a managing director at the RHA. | |
"It looks an impossible timescale." | |
Seaborne Freight's chief executive, Ben Sharp, said the company planned to start operations with two ships, before increasing to four by late summer. | Seaborne Freight's chief executive, Ben Sharp, said the company planned to start operations with two ships, before increasing to four by late summer. |
He declined to give details on the ships it planned to use for the service, saying the information was commercially sensitive. | He declined to give details on the ships it planned to use for the service, saying the information was commercially sensitive. |
Earlier, the Department for Transport confirmed that the company would only be paid if it ran "an effective service". | Earlier, the Department for Transport confirmed that the company would only be paid if it ran "an effective service". |
As part of its preparations for a no-deal Brexit outcome, the government has highlighted the possibility of "severe congestion" at UK ports due to increased border checks. | |
The contract is one of three awarded to provide additional ferries between the UK and several European cities, to help ease the potential backlog. | |
Other contracted suppliers include France's Brittany Ferries and Danish shipping firm DFDS. | |
On the likelihood of needing to bring extra services into force, Mr Grayling said that he had "had detailed discussions with the French, with French counterparts". | |
"They want to keep the Channel ports operating freely and I am confident that will happen." |