Changes to VBS
We have been monitoring the use of our VBS closely in the last few weeks following feedback from industry about the availability of VBS bookings. When the VBS was first designed we went through comprehensive consultations with the local haulage community to give maximum flexibility and to allow bookings to be made without a container associated with the booking.
We wish to retain as much flexibility as possible but its design has encouraged some hauliers to secure as many bookings as they can, irrespective of their actual need. They then return unwanted bookings at the last minute by which time they are of limited benefit to other firms. Last week 11,704 bookings were returned and 6,679 bookings were unused.
We are increasing the number of bookings available on both terminals and, to ensure a more equitable and efficient distribution of bookings, the following changes to VBS will be made on Monday 12 October:
All bookings between 11:00 and 19:00 without a container associated with it 4 hours before the time of the booking will be lost and automatically reclaimed by the system; all other hours remain unchanged
Reclaimed bookings will be re-released for general use but it will be mandatory to attach container details at the time of booking
- No Show charges will continue to apply to any bookings made but not used
We will also be making additional information available via our website to show the number of bookings available, the number taken and the number that went unused at different times of the day.
We believe these changes will improve the efficiency and availability of the VBS and allow us to, collectively, provide a more reliable service to shippers using the Port of Felixstowe.
We will review how these changes are working after two weeks and reserve the right to make further changes should that prove necessary.
Click here for daily data on VBS bookings released and unused
7 October 2020
