Associated British Ports, flood resilience and weather operations on the Humber
Associated British Ports (ABP) operates 21 ports around the UK (ABP, 2021). Its Humber ports sit on low-lying land, and ABP reports that flooding remains a key risk at Hull and Immingham (ABP, 2021). ABP reported to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the third round of the UK adaptation reporting process under the Climate Change Act 2008 (Defra, 2023). Its 2021 report uses UK Climate Projections (UKCP18), with the high-end RCP 8.5 95th percentile for sea level rise (ABP, 2021). The report describes some measures as in place, such as the VTS move, and others as ongoing, such as flood infrastructure work at Hull.
Approach
Move critical services out of harm's way. ABP moved its Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) for the Humber from Spurn Head to Grimsby. ABP states that this reduced the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to these services (ABP, 2021).
Raise flood-sensitive assets (group-wide). ABP runs a program of asset improvements that takes account of climate change. Under it, flood-sensitive critical infrastructure, such as electricity substations, is elevated out of the flood plain (ABP, 2021).
Upgrade flood infrastructure with the flood authority. ABP works with the Environment Agency on jointly funded improvements, including the lock gates at Hull and local resilience measures for key infrastructure. ABP is also a stakeholder in the Environment Agency's Humber 2100+ flood risk strategy (ABP, 2021).
Manage weather in daily operations (group-wide). Across its harbor authority areas, ABP manages storm and wind risks to shipping by monitoring weather conditions against location-specific wave, wind and surge thresholds and using Dynamic Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work (ABP, 2021).
Keep power and systems running (group-wide). Critical services have backup generators, and a national agreement with suppliers provides mobile generators for critical activities. Common IT platforms can be used remotely if a site cannot be reached. All ports and VTS centres have emergency and business continuity plans linked to Local Resilience Forum plans (ABP, 2021).
Results
ABP reports that moving the Humber VTS to Grimsby reduced the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to these services (ABP, 2021). ABP also reports that the improvements reduced its Humber flood risk rating from high to medium, while flooding remains a key risk at Hull and Immingham; flood infrastructure work at Hull is ongoing (ABP, 2021). The report does not give costs or measured reductions in downtime.
Transferability
DMC ports can apply similar steps: relocate or raise the few assets whose failure stops the port, such as VTS centers, substations and control rooms. They can also agree joint works with the national flood or coastal agency, set weather-based operating procedures for harbor areas, and secure backup power and remote IT access. Reporting these measures in a public adaptation report helps show progress to lenders and regulators.
Sources
All information used for this case study was based on publicly available resources.