Our History

Over our 50 years of experience we have witnessed our ports grow to become important assets to support and deliver growth both for the UK and local economies.  The growth impact has been achieved due to the continued investments in our infrastructure, making sure that our ports are able to continually develop their services and support the growth of many industries.

Our people have played a significant role.  They have delivered the highest quality of service through their expertise, loyalty and flexibility and, without them, we could not have built the strong reputation and the long term agreements with many customers that we have today.

As sure as the tide

50 years and counting – delivering outstanding results, on all manner of projects.  Customers from around the world rely on our expertise to realise their ambitions.

 

The Forth Harbour Reorganisation Scheme, constituting Forth Ports Authority (“FPA”), became law by Act of Parliament. Forth Ports was a public trust port responsible for six ports grouped within the Firth of Forth namely – Leith (a trust administered port), Granton (a private company), Grangemouth, Methil and Burntisland (all controlled by British Transport Docks Board) and Kirkcaldy (owned by the Burgh of Kirkcaldy).

Marine terminal became operational within the Firth of Forth at Hound Point (and subsequently at Braefoot Bay in 1984).

FPA assumed responsibility for the provision of pilotage within the Firth of Forth.

Royal Assent was granted to The Ports Act providing that any trust port could, with the consent of the Secretary of State, become a private limited company.

FPA successfully transferred into the private sector as Forth Ports and was listed on the London Stock Exchange on 23rd March 1992.

Forth Ports acquired the Port of Tilbury London Limited (“PoTLL”) on the Thames and the Port of Dundee Limited on the River Tay.

The Port of Rosyth was established and in 1999, Forth Ports acquired further land at Rosyth which enabled the port area to be extended to nearly 100 acres.

Forth Ports acquires land for the London Distribution Park (70 acres) which has subsequently been developed for warehouse and haulage parking with the UK’s largest warehouse located on-site for Amazon.

Forth Ports was acquired by Arcus Infrastructure Partners, an independent fund manager specialising in European infrastructure, and PSP Investments, one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers.

Forth Ports completed the £95m acquisition of Tilbury Container Services, which has been renamed London Container Terminal.

Forth Ports acquired land for Tilbury2 (152 acres), this is part of the £1billion investment programme for Tilbury since 2012.

Forth Ports enters its 50th Year of trading.

Forth Ports is acquired 100% by PSP Investments with a subsequent limited sale to a number of co-investors.

Secretary of State for Transport grants development consent order (DCO) for the construction of Tilbury2.