Peel Ports has announced that it now has 50 advocates for its Cargo 200 initiative, which calls on cargo firms up and down the country - and particularly in the north-west - to pledge to cut their haulage miles. 

The initiative was launched in May in the hope of encouraging importers and exporters whose journeys end in the north of the UK - where Peel is based - to switch from accepting ocean deliveries at south-east ports to accepting them at the centrally-located Port of Liverpool. 

Some big name enterprises have already signed up to the Cargo 200 scheme, including Diageo, JCB, B&M, Jaguar Land Rover, Matalan and Typhoo. 

Patrick Walters, group commercial director at Peel Ports, said the initiative is a logical one as 52 per cent of all UK cargo comes from the north of the UK. 

"Efficiency and sustainability lie at the heart of the Cargo 200 initiative and with the opening of Liverpool2, cargo owners and logistics operators can benefit from a viable, cost effective alternative to southern ports," he commented.