Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove during his visit to Holyhead port to discuss Brexit preparations.The UK will leave the EU's trading rules when the Brexit transition period ends in two weeks' time.While Dover rightly receives a lot of attention, Welsh ports are set to be heavily-affected by Brexit and need more help to be fully prepared for 2021, Conservative MP Stephen Crabb writes for Business Insider.
Traders could look to other routes — like the new direct service from Republic of Ireland to France — if there is significant disruption at Welsh ports, Crabb warns. This has yet to sink in for many businesses which is why the Government has stepped up its communication efforts ahead of 31 December with a blunt "Time is Running Out" message. New customs procedures and controls, along with additional safety and regulatory checks, will be required at the UK-EU border and phased-in over the next six months.
Between them, the ports of Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock handle more than half a million lorries and trailers a year crossing between Great Britain and Ireland, with Holyhead now the second largest RORO port in the UK after Dover. Like Dover, it has precious little space to build new border facilities and relies on the smooth flow of traffic through and away from the port as quickly as possible. Similar challenges exist at Stena's other Welsh port, Fishguard.
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