Peel Ports-operated Port of Greenock has formally revealed its new £25 million ($32 million) ship-to-shore (STS) cranes.
Peel Ports Clydeport invited guests to the port on 8 October for a ceremony commemorating the largest-ever investment in Greenock’s container facilities.
READ: Port of Greenock introduces new Turkey container service
Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “We believe the new cranes will be transformational for our port, and it’s incredible the impact they are having already. It’s clear to the human eye how much quicker they are, and we’ve had a great response from customers and our teams on the efficiencies they’re bringing.”
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, stated: “Between the Port of Greenock and the new Ocean Terminal visitor centre, that’s the best part of £50 million ($65 million) of public and private investment in the overall site, which is a key location for Inverclyde, to help boost the local and national economies and encourage further inward investment, support jobs, and boost tourism.”
The cranes arrived at the port in June of this year and have been completely operational since July after rigorous testing.
The new cranes’ capabilities have reportedly helped secure new routes, such as a new weekly deep sea container service connecting Scotland to Turkey’s Mediterranean market.
READ: Port of Greenock invests £750,000 in refrigerated cargo capabilities
The cranes are the container terminal’s greatest single investment, coming less than a year after a new £20 million ($26 million) cruise ship visitor center opened at the neighboring Greenock Ocean Terminal.
Peel Ports Clydeport and Inverclyde Council held a name competition for the 72 metre-tall cranes, with the winners revealed earlier this year.
Avaleigh Lang, 10, of Lady Alice Primary in Greenock, picked Craner Swift to honour US pop sensation Taylor Swift, while Frances McFadden, 10, of the town’s St Mary’s Primary School, chose U-Crane Bolt to honour Jamaican gold medalist Usain Bolt.
The STS cranes first arrived at the Port of Greenock in June.