Changes to Testing for Freight Drivers Shipping to France

Following the latest update from the French government, from 22 February there will be new positive changes regarding freight driver COVID-19 testing when shipping to France.

The changes are as follows:

• Freight Drivers who spend less than 48 hours in the UK will not require proof of a negative COVID test to cross the border (in either direction).
• Freight Drivers from the Republic of Ireland (ROI) using the UK land bridge can also now rely on a test taken in ROI, as long as it is administered within 72 hours of departure from a UK port.

For UK drivers or those spending more than 48 hours in the UK, the testing requirements remain in place.

More information is available on UK Government’s website.

Rapid antigen tests for freight drivers at Hull port

On 19 January, Dutch government implemented further Covid-19 restrictions for anyone entering the Netherlands. The new requirement states that people arriving in the Netherlands from UK or Ireland must provide proof that they have tested negative for coronavirus following a rapid test directly before departure. This new requirement also applies to freight drivers. More information is available here.

For our Hull to Europoort route, we have set up a test centre at our Terminal 1 in Hull port (postcode HU9 5PS) and we ask any freight drivers that wish to use our service to arrive at least 1h and 30 mins time before departure in order to minimise the risk of missing the sailing. The test centre is opened Monday to Sunday from 14:00 to 19:30. The cost of the test is £29.

Essential information to enter the UK – Read before you book

*Freight drivers remain exempt from the quarantine/self-isolation & pre-departure testing requirements for overseas travel but must complete a Passenger Locator Form for all trips (from Calais and Europoort) and follow the isolation advice if they have transited through/travelled from a red list country. All information below applies to all accompanying passengers:

Everyone* entering England from overseas (including UK nationals and residents) must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days prior to direct departure to England.

Fill in your Passenger Locator Form up to 48 hours before arrival. You must declare all countries you have visited or transited through in the 10 days prior to your arrival on your Passenger Locator Form.
Before departure check the list of red, amber and green countries, as the list can change regularly.

Red list passengers
1. Book a managed quarantine package
2. Complete a passenger locator form

You can only enter if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK. You must enter through a designated port of entry and quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days.

Amber list passengers
1. Book tests for day 2 and 8
2. Complete a passenger locator form
3. Make plans to self-quarantine in private accommodation for 10 full days after arrival (or full duration of stay if less than 10 days)

If you are arriving from an Amber country, and have been fully vaccinated through an approved vaccination programme, at least 14 days before your arrival in England, you must:
1. Book tests for day 2
2. Complete a passenger locator form

Green list passengers
1. Book tests for day 2 and 8
2. Complete a passenger locator form

These measures apply to all persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in England from outside the common travel area comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. The British Overseas Territories are not in the common travel area. Public health requirements may vary depending upon in which nation of the UK you’re staying.
England: www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
Northern Ireland: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-advice
Scotland: www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/pages/overview/
Wales: gov.wales/arriving-wales-overseas

Failure to comply with the above measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. There are a limited set of exemptions from these measures. Check the list of exemptions carefully. You may be fined if you fraudulently claim an exemption.