Thames Freeport - Britain's Trading Future

[ 89 ] routes for freight transport. Instead, the UK continues to build roads and railways, which are seen as the only viable transport arteries, while condemning countless docks and wharves to being lost to residential development. In addition to freight that can be moved between the three Freeport locations, DP World London Gateway has been designated the preferred operator of Hurlingham Wharf in Fulham, and Port of Tilbury London Ltd aspires to develop wharfage in East and Central London. If Hurlingham Wharf and others can be reactivated to handle freight generated by the Freeport and, ultimately, destined for London, the possibility exists to reconnect London with the River Thames in a very significant way, making Thames Freeport of benefit to Greater London by enabling goods to be transported into and out of it via the river in preference to the roads. In this way, benefits associated with the Freeport’s close proximity to the capital can be secured without adding to the congestion and pollution problems with which London and the M25 have become synonymous. The natural environmental benefits of moving cargo by water are that large tonnages can be transported using relatively small prime movers operating at constant, optimum load. In this way shipping and moving freight on rivers and large inland waterways produces low carbon emissions per tonne kilometre compared with other modes of transport. In addition to the environmental benefits derived from the vessels themselves, moving freight by water produces secondary environmental and other benefits that are not initially obvious. Moving cargo by water has the effect of reducing congestion on the roads. For example one 1,750 tonne cargo transported in a GPS Marine 1600-series barge eliminates up to 206 tipper movements from the roads. Below London Bridge, GPS Marine routinely moves its 1600-series barges in pairs. Therefore, a convoy comprising two barges and a single tug transporting goods from, say, Dagenham to London Gateway Port or Tilbury to Royal Primrose Wharf in Silvertown would eliminate 412 tipper truck movements, resulting in a reduction in congestion and in the pollution emitted by the vehicles that would otherwise be caught up in that congestion. Similarly, a single HGV can cause up to 40 times more road wear and damage than that attributable to a private car. Repairing and building roads is carbon intensive and, by reducing HGV road miles, carbon savings associated with road repair and maintenance are automatically generated. The River Thames, in contrast, is relatively low maintenance, particularly in relation to its use by harbour and estuarine freight vessels. Pollutants from HGVs, including exhaust, brake dust and other emissions, are released into the human environment, particularly in cities and built-up areas where traffic moves slowly. Conversely, exhaust emissions from vessels on the Thames are released into the atmosphere at a significant distance from the public. Also, reducing the number of road miles travelled by GPS 631 designed for heavy cargo GPS Napia pushing a barge loaded with 60 lorry loads of tunnel lining segments Moving cargo by water has the effect of reducing congestion on the roads. For example one 1,750 tonne cargo transported in a GPS Marine 1600-series barge eliminates up to 206 tipper movements from the roads