Freight Left Behind Thanks to Heysham Tides

Conditions at Heysham have led to issues with freight coming to the island.

EVF criticised the lack of produce coming to the island today which has impacted its customers.

In a post on Facebook, the company said that the Lancashire port ‘appears to be better stocked than the island, as once again freight including fresh bread, and perishables were left in Heysham’.

It added: ‘This will impact today’s fresh bread deliveries to any customers we supply, we have requested Coulstons contact you directly. This will also have in impact on tomorrow’s deliveries due to a potential double order arriving.

In the comments, the company then proceeded to call out the Steam Packet to explain why trailers had been left behind.

The Steam Packet responded with an apology and said that ‘due to tight timings imposed on the vessel by tidal conditions at Heysham Port, there was limited opportunity to load freight trailers’ on Thursday’s 2.15 sailing.

It added: Trailers are loaded in priority order as advised by each freight customer, whilst attempting to balance each customers’ needs and relative loads booked on the sailing. Due to the additional time required to load, plug-in and inspect refrigerated trailers, given the time available a decision was made to load as many refrigerated trailers as possible and back fill with additional non-refrigerated trailers.

‘Given there was only an hour to load freight, Peel Ports’ dockers did a great job to get 21 trailers on board.

‘The company takes its responsibility as the island’s lifeline very seriously and works hard with its partners to try and deliver the maximum amount of freight in the shortest time possible. Today’s 2.15pm is carrying the remaining trailers from the Port.’