Europe's containership companies are signaling for a transitional period for owners and governments to adapt to the much anticipated Brexit set to occur three months from now.
The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) says that both sides need until at least December 2020 to prepare for the new trade scenario, especially if Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan is shot down.
"If the present Brexit withdrawal agreement does not pass the vote in the House of Commons in mid-January, a cliff-edge scenario will be the most likely one," the Belgian organisation said.
"In this case, producers and traders give no guarantee that the goods will reach their clients in time and in a good condition."
The ESC says "no clear picture" exists on how to deal with the change, set for 29 March, if May's 585-page plan, which includes no "hard border" on Ireland, is not passed.
"Preparation after this date will be nerve-breaking," the ESC said.
"Hopefully, the EU 27 and the UK will, in the meanwhile, be able to negotiate a free trade agreement allowing trade in goods and services as free as possible."
Last week, the ESC called the situation "unacceptable", fearing major impact on the supply chain between the EU 27 and the UK, risking delivery of crucial goods between the two.
"For instance, medicines and foodstuff are exchanged between these two European regions in large quantities," the ESC said.
"Although many companies have already invested a lot in preventing chaos, the preparation made so far can never completely prevent big disturbances in trade."
UK's warehouse capacity is already maxed out with nearly no room for emergency stocks, according to the ESC.
