One Scottish west-facing freight port is due to receive a major lift in productivity with operator Peel Ports announcing the order of two new cranes.
The multi-million-pound investment at Greenock Ocean Terminal (GOT) will help to future-proof the port as it prepares to accommodate increased demand from cargo owners.
Peel Ports has issued a £17 million ($21 million) tender for the cranes and this is the largest single investment made at the container terminal since it opened in 1969.
The commission of the cranes at Scotland’s deepest container terminal comes amid the ongoing construction of a purpose built multi agency Border Control Post.
This was a requirement to allow all commodities to be imported and exported from the port in the face of changing legislative requirements due to Brexit.
The terminal currently accounts for 60,000 TEU per annum, a third of all containers coming into Scotland, and the new infrastructure is set to contribute to its growth in time.
The terminal also recently created additional storage capacity of up to 2,500 TEU as it continues to keep up with an increase in demand.
As part of the transition, GOT will later decommission its Crane No.3 currently in operation.
It will be replaced in the short term with a multi-docker crane that specialises in the handling of forest products, that will further enhance the port’s service offerings and create further opportunities.
Once the contract is awarded, work is expected to take 18 months. Once the two new cranes are completed and onsite, the group will later decommission the two other cranes currently at the terminal.
Clydeport Port Director at Peel Ports Group, Jim McSporran said: “The commission of two new cranes will be significant for Greenock Ocean Terminal and will contribute to the continuing growth seen in recent times.
“This investment also highlights our commitment to ensuring Greenock Ocean Terminal continues to provide an efficient service for our customers.
“Throughout the last two years, we have seen some significant changes in the supply chain and trading patterns due to COVID-19 and Brexit and by investing in our infrastructure, we are ensuring the future of the terminal.
“Greenock Ocean Terminal is a mainstay of the local community and it’s important that we look towards the future and continue to provide job prospects and economic opportunities for local businesses”
Located on the Firth of Clyde, Greenock Ocean Terminal has been at the heart of Scotland’s shipping industry since 1876, with the container terminal officially opening in 1969.
