zoomImage Courtesy: Peel Ports

Scotland’s deepest container terminal, Greenock Ocean Terminal, expects to double its business in the next five years thanks to the opening of GBP 400 million (USD 495.6 million) ‘sister’ terminal – Liverpool2, according to Peel Ports.

Clydeport’s Greenock Ocean Terminal has projected that it will handle 200,000 TEU containers a year by 2021, representing a 100% increase on today’s 100,000 units.

Opened in November 2016, Liverpool2 deep-water container terminal was developed in response to changing trading patterns and shipping industry trends towards the use of mega ocean-going containerships.

“The opening of Liverpool2 has transformed the playing field for us, bringing deep-sea connections much closer to Scotland and we are now in a unique position thanks to our Irish Sea Hubs. Mega ocean containerships can now call directly into Liverpool, which acts as a feeder hub to us in Greenock, Ireland and Manchester, allowing closer import and export routes to market,” Andrew Hemphill, Port Director, Peel Ports’ Clydeport, explained.

Located on the Firth of Clyde, Greenock Ocean Terminal was opened in 1969. The 50-acre facility has evolved over time and recently invested GBP 1.6 million in straddle carrier, with further investment planned.

Future plans include extending the quayside by 150 meters to support larger vessels coming into Greenock. The site is also home to three container cranes which have the ability to lift loads of up to 40 tons and outreach across 13 containers.

Peel Ports owns and operates six of the UK and Ireland’s ports - Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester, Medway (Sheerness / Chatham), Clydeport and Great Yarmouth. It also operates a container terminal in Dublin.