UK Transport Dept. Extends Contract with BMT
BMT Reliability Consultants (BMT) has announced a one year contract extension with the UK Department for Transport (DfT). BMT will continue working with the DfT to provide maritime statistics support, as part of the statutory legislative requirements set out in the Maritime Statistics Directive.
BMT has been working with the DfT for the past nine years collating information on all maritime freight traffic and ship movements in and out of UK ports. DfT commented, “We have a statutory requirement to provide detailed and accurate maritime statistics to the EU in a timely manner. We are pleased to continue our relationship with BMT who has demonstrated that it has the technical skills, domain knowledge and a working relationship with the key stakeholders, to support us and ensure that the maritime statistics data is collected in an accurate and timely manner.”
Maritime freight data is supplied by approximately 400 shipping lines and agents in any one year. Other data, which is less detailed, is supplied by approximately 150 port authorities and operators. The information collected by BMT is required to help inform UK policy and to support the European Community (EC) Maritime Statistics Directive which was introduced to assist the EC in developing policies and monitoring the impact of policy measures. Once analysed, shipping lines, shipping agents and port operators are also able to access the data to develop their own business strategies.
The information provides an invaluable insight into the freight movements to and from the UK including the impact of the global recession.
Andrew Cooper, Managing Director of BMT Reliability Consultants commented, "The award of this continuation contract recognises the importance of the relationship which we have established with the data providers over the past nine years enabling us to deliver accurate and timely information to the DfT. This is further supported by BMT's strong maritime background and its expertise in data collection and IT."
