A new “unaccompanied” freight ferry terminal has opened east of London in the port of Tilbury.

The 500,000-unit freight-only facility uses a “truck driver-free operation”, meaning freight is transported into the UK without needing lorry drivers to accompany it.

The owners Forth Ports say this comes at an opportune time when infection control is uppermost in everyone’s minds.

The bespoke terminal will import and export containers and trailers with supplies for the UK, including food, drink and medicines to and from continental Europe on P&O’s busy Tilbury-Zeebrugge freight route.

It uses plenty of technology, including the latest booking and border technology, such as number plate recognition, which ensures that the terminal is Brexit-ready to continue the smooth passage of goods, regardless of the eventual EU-UK settlement.

(Picture – Forth Ports)