Flexible port options
London Gateway’s Common User Facility (CUF) is expected to open on the port’s logistics park early next year. What can companies expect?
The purpose-built Common User Facility (CUF) on London Gateway logistics park is designed to ensure that all shippers, whether leading retailers or SMEs, can take advantage of the portcentric opportunities and supply chain savings on offer.
Fully integrated with the new deep-sea container port, the multipurpose specialist cargo handling centre will enable occupiers to share warehousing and transportation, labour and materials handling equipment. Operating 24/7, it will include cross-docking, storage, distribution and multi-user ‘pay-as-you-go’ services.
The CUF is aimed at SMEs that do not need a large, standalone distribution centre of their own. However, it will also be valuable for larger businesses looking for supplementary capacity or an ‘incubator opportunity’ where they can build up volumes from an initial small start.
For example, the CUF could allow businesses with existing commitments and infrastructure to add London Gateway to their distribution networks as a strategic devanning and collection point.
Andy Mead, managing director at Essex-based 3PL The Finishing Line says: “From an SME point of view, we’re delighted that London Gateway is offering the same benefits to companies like ours as it is to bigger players. We’ve been very impressed by our tour of the facilities and we’re also particularly interested in the possibilities offered by the Common User Facility.”
Portcentric logistics operations will piggy back on London Gateway in a bid to drive greater efficiencies than can be achieved at more centrally located logistics businesses.
Greater speed from container to store and lower carbon footprint are claimed as the major benefits.
The London Gateway logistics park is expected to contain 9 million sq ft of warehousing space when complete.
Gateway deals
Inland container service operator Pentalver is to open a new container facility at the UK’s new deep-water port.
Important landside services such as empty storage, dry repair and reefer services will be provided at the new facility.
JBS, the world’s largest supplier of beef and chicken, is to switch all its UK imports from South America to DP World London Gateway, taking advantage of the new deep-sea shipping services coming into the port.
Until now it has used two ports of entry to the UK, in the north and south, but now it will concentrate all imports through London Gateway. The change has been made possible by the arrival of new services, which will link the port with South American ports such as Santos (Brazil), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).
