Issue 01: Summer 2013
Welcome to the first Weastflows (West and East Freight Flows) project newsletter. This edition features some of the latest news and information from across the project. Bringing together experts from all sectors across North West Europe (NWE), Weastflows* aims to help enable freight movement to be more efficient and sustainable. Weastflows is undertaking research and exploring ICT solutions to make better use of existing infrastructure and freight traffic ‘flows’ and encourage a shift from road haulage to more sustainable rail, sea and inland waterway transport. These solutions are being piloted across a range of logistics networks to demonstrate how these approaches can deliver real commercial benefits. The project is also looking at the need for connected freight flows with the rest of Europe, Asia and America. Jointly leading the project are Le Havre-based logistics and transport institute, CRITT TL and the Institute for Sustainability in London, who partner with organisations from countries across NWE including Belgium, Ireland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the UK. For more information on Weastflows visits www.weastflows.eu * The project is part of the INTERREG IVB NWE programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Improving the flow of freight in Portsmouth Weastflows partner, Portsmouth International Port, one of the UK’s largest fresh produce ports, has introduced a new system that reduces the environmental impact of the fruit and vegetable supply process.
The tracking system gives shippers ‘real-time’ information about where their fruit is. This reduces waste by making sure the shipments are collected at exactly the right time, helping to keep fresh produce in perfect condition.
The bespoke ‘track and trace’ system features barcodes that are attached to products the moment they start to make the journey from field to supermarket. Feeding the information into a web portal, this allows organisations involved in the supply chain to monitor the progress of each shipment.
There is a reduction in wasted journeys, with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) only needing to be dispatched when produce is ready for collection; this ultimately means a reduction in CO2 emissions. It also helps to ensure full advantage is made of empty space in trailers, reducing the overall number of lorries on the roads allowing the whole process to run more efficiently.
It is believed to be the first time a UK port has introduced a web-based tracking system for fresh produce, allowing full traceability from anywhere in the world. Growers, shippers, wholesalers and retailers are all benefitting from this use of technology.
www.weastflows.eu
For more information visit: www.weastflows.eu/ news/improving-the-flow-of-freight/
Maps launched to identify sustainable freight routes Comprehensive maps of North West Europe have been produced using Geographical Information System (GIS) data to show existing freight transport infrastructure and planned upgrades across all modes including road, rail and sea. Undertaken by Weastflows partner, AURH (Town planning agency of the Le Havre and Seine Estuary area in France), this new atlas comprises 32 maps at North West European level and 16 maps at regional level. the maps present each transport infrastructure by mode and also future infrastructures planned. For more information visit: www.weastflows.eu/ news/new-maps-launched/