Felixstowe Docks in trouble?

Vinegartits

I have just heard that one of the terminals has been closed and that all ships are being diverted to the other.

This has monumental implications for import/export, the area and all the businesses that rely on the port not to mention the country and implies that business has halved.

Scary times.

Cannon_Fodder

Heard there has been a big drop in the number of ships unloading, especially from China...

The stories about waste paper and scrap no longer being wanted by China etc, mean there is no money in a containers return trip, either...

amcluesent

The Baltic Dry index has been sinking fast for months.

jetski690

It has not happened yet, not until the new year but trade is expected to be really low after Christmas and they can consolidate everything onto one terminal and is meant to be a big cost saving to the company, That though usually means the customers will suffer which they will. There is work presently on going for a new terminal to open in 2010 which will replace the one that closes but with the way they treat their customers and the productivity rate we achieve it will be a wonder if they will have any left to make use of it.

chuckles1066

jetski690 wrote: »

It has not happened yet, not until the new year but trade is expected to be really low after Christmas and they can consolidate everything onto one terminal and is meant to be a big cost saving to the company, That though usually means the customers will suffer which they will. There is work presently on going for a new terminal to open in 2010 which will replace the one that closes but with the way they treat their customers and the productivity rate we achieve it will be a wonder if they will have any left to make use of it.

It's worse than that; following the problems in the financial sector in the US, uncertainty has now hit Japan.

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

lynzpower

I thought Pickles worked at Felixstowe docks and business was booming, only a few weeks ago?

Am trying to find old thread as im sure we discussed tihs?

lynzpower

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1244645&page=3&highlight=pickles+docks

Found it!

MrDT

I'm pretty sure pickles posted a week or two ago that even he was getting a little worried about the docks. I won't bother hunting his post down (because I can't be bothered, not cos it doesn't exist!) feel free to do another search though. I recall lots of people being nice to our tame landlord and wishing him well etc.

Vinegartits

MrDT wrote: »

I'm pretty sure pickles posted a week or two ago that even he was getting a little worried about the docks

The problem is not confined to the docks but affects all the businesses dependent on it. I suspect that the area will be changed beyond recognition by what is happening - shops are closing, recruitment is non-existent, haulage and import/export companies large and small are reducing their workforces either by getting rid of their temps and introducing a recruitment and overtime ban or by making redundancies.

I think it is happening relatively quickly because import/export is an early indicator in a recession so what we are seeing happening at Felixstowe docks will ripple out over the country as a whole and may even give an indication of how hard and deep this recession is going to be. If it is any help, a friend who owns one of the affected businesses, well established over many years, is terrified and has never seen anything like it. Anyone who isn't scared at the moment cannot really understand the full extent of the problem imho.

amcluesent

>Anyone who isn't scared at the moment...<

As imports have collapsed, so has the Chinese manufacturing. And China isn't able to cope with social unrest as there is no political process; I expect to see military adventurism as a diversion. Already sabre-rattling in the Sea of Japan, a Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2010 is on the cards, with the USA than having to respond as we did over Poland in 1939.

chuckles1066

amcluesent wrote: »

>Anyone who isn't scared at the moment...<

As imports have collapsed, so has the Chinese manufacturing. And China isn't able to cope with social unrest as there is no political process; I expect to see military adventurism as a diversion. Already sabre-rattling in the Sea of Japan, a Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2010 is on the cards, with the USA than having to respond as we did with Poland in 1939.

You've been on the Red Bull, haven't you?