The Department for Transport, (DfT) has signed contracts worth £86.6m with four ferry operators to import medicines into the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Following what the DfT described as a robust procurement process, transport secretary Grant Shapps said that Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O and Stena Line would be ready to deliver capacity equivalent to thousands of HGVs per week from 31 October.
Shapps said: “Our decisive action means freight operators will be ready and waiting to transport vital medicines into the country from the moment we leave.”
The DfT said that the ferries will operate on routes that are less likely to face any potential disruption, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
The current framework will be in place for the next four years should there be any future need for procurement if there is any increased capacity.
By Michelle Mooney
