Port of Felixstowe Receives Full AEO Status

26th September 2014

The Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, has become the first UK
port to receive full Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status.

Image by Port of Felixstowe

The AEO initiative was introduced by the European Commission through the Union Customs Code to help simplify customs procedures and secure international supply chains.

Commenting on the accreditation, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, owners of the Port of Felixstowe, said:

"Being the first port in the UK to achieve full AEO status demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible level of service to our customers. It recognises the robustness and consistency of the port's procedures, giving customers and UK Customs comfort that the high standards required to achieve accreditation are maintained.

"It is becoming increasingly important to cargo owners that everyone involved in the international supply chain is able to demonstrate the highest standards of customs simplification, safety and security. Ports play a vital role in this regard and this designation gives them that assurance."

The AEO certificate is an internationally recognised quality mark issued by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs giving surety that the holder's role in the international supply chain is secure, and that their customs controls and procedures are efficient and compliant.

Port of Felixstowe (PFL) is the largest container port in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe. PFL is a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group. Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL), is the world's leading port investor, developer and operator. The HPH network of port operations comprises 319 berths in 52 ports, spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Over the years, HPH has expanded internationally into other logistics and transportation-related businesses. These include cruise ship terminals, airport operations, distribution centres, rail services, and ship repair facilities. In 2013, the HPH port network handled a combined throughput of 78.3 million TEU worldwide.

Port of Felixstowe - Press release