14th December 2006

Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited has been conducting trials of RHIDES with hauliers throughout 2006, and has been able to establish that a robust system is now in place.

To ensure a smooth transition into the new system, HPUK plans to introduce a phased implementation of the RHIDES cards, as follows:

From 26th December 2006 - all drivers will be requested to produce RHIDES cards. If they do not have RHIDES cards, they will be asked to produce a form of photo card identification in order to gain access to the terminals. Drivers failing to produce RHIDES cards or photo card identification upon arrival at the in-gates may be denied access to the terminals, and will certainly be delayed.

From 1st March 2007 – a ‘no card, no container’ policy comes into effect, and drivers without RHIDES cards will not be granted access to the terminals under any circumstances.

It is, therefore, essential that those hauliers who have not yet registered their drivers for RHIDES cards do so at the earliest opportunity, via the RHIDES website, at www.rhides.com.

Hauliers are also requested to pass this information onto their drivers, sub-contractors, importers/exporters who use merchant haulage, or indeed anyone who may be affected by these new requirements.

Those drivers who have been registered for RHIDES cards, but have yet to collect them, are encouraged to make an appointment with the Port Pass Office as soon as possible, on (01394) 604830.