A Felixstowe-based consultancy has successfully steered a ports business towards achieving a quality marque to help with trading post-Brexit.

East Anglian Daily Times: Felixstowe-based Vartan has successfully guided Forth Ports in obtaining Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status for part of its Scottish operations, as part of its post-Brexit plans. Pictured is Forth Ports Grangemouth. Picture: PETER DEVLINFelixstowe-based Vartan has successfully guided Forth Ports in obtaining Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status for part of its Scottish operations, as part of its post-Brexit plans. Pictured is Forth Ports Grangemouth. Picture: PETER DEVLIN (Image: Devlin Photo Ltd G66 7JW)

Vartan helped Forth Ports through AEO accreditation, making them the first ports in Scotland to benefit from full AEO status. The ports include the largest container port in Scotland, Grangemouth, the largest enclosed deep water port, Leith, and a thriving Ro/Ro service in Rosyth.

The status is designed to facilitate legitimate trade, reinforce safety and security procedures and standardise customs controls via an electronic system under the Union Customs Code.

Forth Ports chief operating officer Stuart Wallace said: “This is great news for our Scottish ports.” Miles Vartan said his firm had worked with a number of port groups and other parts of the supply chain now reaping the benefits of AEO status.