FIRMS in Furness could take advantage of a new Government initiative aimed at encouraging more freight transport by sea.
Development agency Furness Enterprise says the new Transport Act paves the way for the port of Barrow to develop its potential as a road/rail/sea transport hub feeding cargoes onto coastal shipping serving the UK and other continental ports.
The new legislation allows coastal shipping, loading and storage facilities to receive grant aid for the first time from next month, if they result in reduced traffic on the roads.
Stuart Klosinski of Furness Enterprise said: "The grants offer great potential for Associated British Ports (ABP), its customers and companies in Furness that might only have previously considered road or rail transport for raw materials and finished goods.
"We have already identified companies who may be able to take advantage of this new scheme and will be working with ABP to maximise the grant potential for Barrow."
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