Scotland’s container terminal, within the Port of Grangemouth, welcomed five new Kalmar/Cargotec straddle carriers as part of a multi-million-pound investment in terminal equipment at the port. The five new Kalmar ESC 440 diesel-electric straddle carriers were built in Port of Gdynia, Poland and shipped into the port aboard the specialist cargo ship Taiga Desgagnes [see link to a time-lapse of the unloading here: https://vimeo.com/390577168/b8c4e1eec1].

The new straddles are the first phase of ‘taller’ straddles purchased by the port group in Scotland and will increase capacity of the container terminal by allowing containers to be stacked up to three high. Currently the stack is two high and with these new taller machines, the capacity of the container terminal will increase by 50%. The diesel-electric straddles are fuel efficient, low noise and feature a diesel-electric drive which fully complies with the latest exhaust emission regulations.

Senior Port Manager, Derek Knox, said: “The arrival of our five new Kalmar/Cargotec straddle carriers is an important asset and will facilitate increased container volumes moving through the port in the coming months and years.  This investment builds on a year of growth in container volumes in Grangemouth despite the current economic uncertainty.

The additional capacity that will be created further secures our position as Scotland’s largest container terminal with a modern fleet of equipment and the supply of storage capacity to meet future demands. In Grangemouth we handle some of the country’s most valuable exports, such as fine foods and drinks, so flexibility and durability of our equipment is essential with further investment in our straddle carrier fleet planned over the next few years.”

Mikko Mononen, VP, Sales, EMEIA, Kalmar: “We are happy to continue strengthening our long-standing and successful partnership with Forth Ports with this delivery. Driven by a highly efficient diesel-electric power unit Kalmar Straddle carriers comply with the latest emission regulations and offer excellent maneuverability, quiet operation and easy maintenance. The 8^th generation machines come with a number of refinements and improvements that have been developed in close collaboration with our customers and they have proven to be a reliable and dependable choice.”

The straddles will be put into operation next month (March) following an induction period and training for the straddle drivers. More than £6billion worth of goods passes through Grangemouth each year including food and drink, steel plate, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry.

• February 2020                         -Ends –

The crew manning the tug, the Craigleith, on the River Forth on Christmas Day have been assured a traditional festive dinner after the marine team at Forth Ports made a special delivery of their turkey – by pilot boat.

A three-strong crew of the Craigleith will be onboard the tug over the festive period moored close to the Braefoot Gas terminal, east of the Forth Bridge on the River Forth, to ensure the safety and smooth transit of ships using this busy waterway. Tugs are also used in situations which need firefighting and marine pollution control capabilities; however these situations are a very rare occurrence.

Each year, Forth Ports gives each of its employees across the group a fresh turkey for Christmas. In Scotland, over 500 turkeys are distributed around the ports of Dundee, Rosyth, Grangemouth, Burntisland, Methil and Leith and the teams working on the Forth and Tay Estuaries.

Commenting on the festive delivery to the Craigleith, Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports, said: “It’s a long-standing tradition in the ports industry that employees get a turkey for Christmas to enjoy with their families. The Craigleith’s crew will be out on the river and away from their friends and families this Christmas but we weren’t going to let them miss out on this important custom. Our thanks and appreciation go to them and all our teams around the business who are working over the festive period.”

The Craigleith is the pride of Forth Ports fleet of tugs. Launched last year, the tug was named the Craigleith in keeping with the tradition of the tugs on the Forth being named after islands in the estuary. The Fidra, Seal Carr and Oxcar tugs are the other tugs in service.

Picture: Ben Greenshields (skipper of Craigleith tug) and Theo Currie (Towage Manager from Forth Ports) onboard the pilot boat the Puma, with the Craigleith in the background

23 December 2019                             – ends –

A 360-tonne bridge has been lifted into place as part of construction of a new port for the South East, Tilbury2.

The steel bridge was towed 135 nautical miles from Rotterdam to the Tilbury2 site – a process which took 24 hours – before it was lifted into place. See the video of the journey here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY15F6AtQR8

The approach bridge is the first of three components to be installed over the next few months to create a Roll On – Roll Off facility into the new terminal currently under construction by GRAHAM.

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at The Port of Tilbury, said: “This is another important milestone in the creation of our new port Tilbury2.

“GRAHAM’s team successfully completed the link span fixed bridge installation and we look forward to seeing the bridge opened early next year.”

The steel bridge, measuring 54m x 15m x 5m was chosen for its strength and durability in the marine environment.

It was transported by the HAPO pontoon H-332 and supporting tug.

The Port of London (PLA) pilots were on board when entering the Thames Estuary and remained with GRAHAM throughout the lifting operations.

Following closely behind in convoy was the MATADOR 3 seagoing floating sheerleg crane with a lifting capacity of 1,800 tonnes, again with a supporting tug.

Paul Scott, Contracts Director for GRAHAM, said: “We have hit another milestone on this major project with the arrival and installation of the approach bridge.

“It was a real team effort from the loading out at Ravestein’s BV yard through to the installation.

“The approach bridge is positioned from abutments on both the landside of the flood defence and on the foreshore.”

The Tilbury2 project consists of the construction of a new port terminal and associated facilities on land at the former Tilbury Power Station on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury.

When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and will see the creation of a new significantly larger rail head which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m.

The project is central to the Port of Tilbury’s £1 billion investment programme during 2012-20, which has seen it double the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume of cargo across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and increase direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

-ENDS-

Construction of the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm is now underway following confirmation from EDF Renewables that financial close for the project has been achieved. Twenty-five (25) financial institutions are lending money to fund the wind farm which will supply enough low carbon electricity for around 375,000 homes.

All of the project’s 54 turbines will be assembled at the Port of Dundee before being sailed to the site and the Scottish engineering firm BiFab will build a number of the foundation jackets.

NnG has a capacity of c. 450 megawatts (MW) of low carbon energy and will offset over 400,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions each year. Construction of components is now underway, offshore construction will start in June 2020 and full commissioning will complete in 2023.

Charles Hammond, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports, said: “This is great news for Dundee and we look forward to working with EDF Renewables and Siemens Gamesa on this major development that will bring significant benefits to not only the City of Dundee and the port but the whole of Scotland. Continued investment in our facilities, skills and infrastructure along with our £10m industry-leading heavy lift quayside means the Port of Dundee is well placed to deliver this prestigious offshore wind infrastructure project.”

See link to video of Charles Hammond talking about the news: https://vimeo.com/376136758/8d0f994b7a

Link to main news release: https://nngoffshorewind.com/2019/11/28/construction-of-neart-na-gaoithe-offshore-wind-farm-project-to-go-ahead-following-financial-agreements/

Tarmac, the UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, has partnered with London’s fastest growing port, the Port of Tilbury, to create the UK’s largest construction materials aggregates terminal at Tilbury2, the new port being constructed on the north bank of the River Thames.

The work will see the creation of new aggregate processing and manufacturing facilities, including an asphalt and ready mix concrete plant, at the new port terminal, supported by the terminal’s deep sea capacity for vessels up to 100,000 metric tonnes. Its riverside location will enable the easy import of raw materials and facilitate the use of the River Thames as a delivery route for processed construction materials into Central London.

Martin Riley, senior vice president of Tarmac, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Forth Ports on this project. It demonstrates our firm commitment to the development of industry leading infrastructure to support the delivery of the UK’s long-term built environment ambitions.”

In February 2019, Forth Ports, owner of The Port of Tilbury, obtained approval under a development consent order (DCO) from the Planning Inspectorate to build a new terminal adjacent to its current port in Thurrock.  The new, privately funded port is being built on a 152-acre site and it is envisaged that Tilbury2 will act as a satellite of the main port, comprising a:

• Roll on/roll off ferry terminal for importing and exporting containers and trailers
• Construction Materials and Aggregate Terminal (CMAT) for importing, processing, manufacturing and distributing construction materials
• New nationally strategic rail and road connection into the site.

Tarmac’s Mark Wood, managing director – Materials South, said: “This exclusive development will ensure the long-term security of aggregate supplies into London and the South East, allowing us to support vital construction projects while using alternative transportation methods for the movement of materials, taking vehicles off the congested roads around the capital and using the Thames as a means of importing aggregates and other bulk materials into London.”

Charles Hammond, Chief Executive of Forth Ports, owners of the Port of Tilbury, said: “Our investment in the development of Tilbury2 is essential for the Port of Tilbury to accommodate the growing demand from our customers. This announcement sees the creation of the country’s biggest construction materials processing hub in partnership with Tarmac, the UK’s largest supplier of construction materials, and is a valued addition to the broad range of partnerships we have right across our Tilbury facility.”

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury, said: “We look forward to welcoming Tarmac to Tilbury2 when the facility opens in 2020. The port’s deep sea capacity for vessels up to 100,000 tonnes positions it uniquely to service Tarmac’s planned on-site aggregate processing and manufacturing facilities. Tarmac’s location within Tilbury2 will ensure that the construction industry in London and the South East of England can have fast access to the materials they require.”

Joint development of the site by the Port of Tilbury and Tarmac will take place through late 2019 to establish most operations by the end of 2020.

//ends

A floating pontoon used to discharge freight ferry vessels at the new Tilbury2 development at Port of Tilbury has been launched, marking a major milestone in the creation of a new multi-million pound port for London.

The pontoon, measuring 55 x 45m in dimensions, was launched from a slipway earlier this month from Ravestein BV yard in Deest, Holland. When complete the pontoon will be used to discharge freight Roll On/Roll Off (RoRo) vessels into the new terminal currently under construction by GRAHAM at Tilbury2.

The pontoon finishing works is expected to be completed in October, when it will then be towed by tug along with the linkspan bridge, ready for installation at the new RoRo terminal before the end of the year.

Paul Scott, contracts director for GRAHAM, said: “This launch is a significant milestone in Tilbury2’s marine package of works that will enable the terminal’s Roll On/Roll Off function to be realised.

“Once complete, the floating pontoon will provide large scale capacity for the loading and discharge of RoRo vessels at the terminal, enabling a huge increase in the volume of cargo being transported across the quay. The economic and social benefits of this scheme, not just locally, but nationally, cannot be understated and this launch is an exciting milestone in the scheme’s progression.”

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at The Port of Tilbury said: “The launch of the pontoon is a significant part of the creation of our new port Tilbury2 and we are pleased that the construction is on track for Spring 2020. When operational, T2 will be the largest unaccompanied Ro-Ro terminal in the UK.”

The Tilbury2 project consists of the construction of a new port terminal and associated facilities on land at the former Tilbury Power Station on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury.

When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and will see the creation of a new significantly larger rail head which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m.

The project is central to the Port of Tilbury’s £1 billion investment programme during 2012-20, which has seen it double the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume of cargo across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and increase direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

See below for two video clips from the launch.

https://vimeo.com/364233590/209e7d5124 – Film of pontoon being launched

https://vimeo.com/364233190/ce16cc0e50 – Timelapse film of pontoon coming out of hanger

7 October 2019                                           -ENDS-

The Port of Rosyth welcomed their new SAMSON ecological hopper into the port for commissioning. The hopper is the first of its kind in the UK and will be a key component of the port’s new agri-bulk hub facility for Cefetra.

Forth Ports owns and manages eight commercial ports across the UK including the Port of Rosyth which is strategically located for road and rail and provides an important connection with mainland Europe and the UK. The Port of Rosyth is currently in an exciting phase of development with a multimillion pound investment to provide a dedicated  agri-bulk facility for Cefetra. The new terminal and improved storage facilities will deliver increased annual throughput and storage capacity positioning Rosyth as the main agri-hub for Scotland.

In developing this new agri-hub the safety of staff and protection of the environment is paramount.  Forth Ports chose a SAMSON Eco Hopper to receive dry bulk materials as it offers a high and reliable import capacity whilst minimising the escape of dust and it is equipped with a host of safety measures to ensure effective and safe performance.

The new SAMSON Eco Hopper arrived at the Port of Rosyth earlier this month and it will now be installed and commissioned to receive dry bulk materials such as grain and aggregates.

“We are very pleased and excited to be working with such an important and respected Port Operator as Forth Ports and to provide one of our ecological hoppers for their new  agri-bulk terminal project at Rosyth” says Dale Lockley, Managing Director of SAMSON Materials Handling.  “The Forth Ports Group has considerable experience with the SAMSON range of equipment as there is already SAMSON ship loading and stockpiling equipment operating at their other ports, but this is the first Eco Hopper at Forth Ports, indeed the first SAMSON Eco Hopper in the UK”

Commenting on the hopper in Rosyth, Derek Knox, Senior Port Manager said: “It’s great to welcome the new SAMSON eco hopper into Rosyth. We are investing in our port to ensure the most efficient, dust free agri-hub for Cefetra as well as other bulk customers. We look forward to using the hopper on the next grain shipment due into the port in September. We have a strong relationship with SAMSON and have had a great experience with their market leading equipment.”

Operation of the SAMSON Eco Hopper is straightforward.  As dry bulk materials such as grain arrive by sea they are offloaded into the hoppers using mobile harbour cranes.  At a little over 18m in height and made of reinforced steel the Eco Hopper provides a sturdy and solid reception unit.  The Eco Hopper is topped by a tapered inlet shroud which minimises any dust generation caused by cross winds.  As the crane grab discharges the load, dust filter units situated on three sides of the hopper will keep any fugitive dust from spreading.  The grain then falls through the “Flex-Flap” dust seal system which contains any further dust.  Material is discharged from the hopper via a dual outlet fitted with two telescopic cascade discharge chutes. This allows a single truck to be loaded by two chutes simultaneously thus increasing the average loading speed.  Material passes through the SAMSON Eco Hopper at a peak rate of 1200 tph.  The unit is wheel mounted which allows it to be positioned across the port in different locations as required and to be moved clear to allow other port operations to continue when not in use.

The SAMSON Eco Hopper benefits from a variety of safety measures: a storm anchor system (comprising of chains, shackles and attachments to secure the equipment during high winds), ready-to-load traffic lights and sounders, working lighting and safety overload protection.  The operators’ cabin is climate controlled and provides a 360 degree view of the operation while accessing all controls.  There is also a hand-held pendant operator remote control unit.

Forth Ports Rosyth is the first UK port to install a SAMSON Eco Hopper to provide dust controlled import facilities for its new agri-hub.

P&O FERRIES will strengthen its position as the leading enabler of trade flows across the English Channel by launching a new daily ferry service linking Calais with the Port of Tilbury.

The new route launches this month and is designed to give freight which is not accompanied by a driver a direct route to a port located just 25 miles from Central London, further broadening P&O Ferries’ comprehensive service for importers to and exporters from the South East of England.

Janette Bell, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries, said: “We are delighted to be able to increase the choice we offer our customers by introducing a reliable, efficient and timely route for goods bound for markets in London and the South East.”

“The route saves up to 75 road miles each day compared with the traditional Calais-Dover crossing, meaning that our customers save on fuel and land on the doorstep of London. By prioritizing the fast discharge of the ship, the freight can be on the M25 from 5.30am, thereby enabling time-sensitive loads to continue their journey before the rush hour starts.”

Xavier Bertrand, Président du Conseil Régional des Hauts-de-France, said: “The opening of a regular shipping line between Tilbury and Calais is an event to celebrate for many reasons. On the one hand, it meets the expectations of the European market and will help developing trade with Greater London, the Midlands and Greater Manchester.”

“On the other hand, it will improve the fluidity on the Channel, especially in the event of a No Deal Brexit. The port of Calais and P&O Ferries show their willingness to invest in the future, to offer a wider range of services to their customers in the logistics sector and to enhance the attractiveness of the French coastline.”

Charles Hammond, Chief Executive of the Forth Ports Group (owner of the Port of Tilbury), said: “This adds another string to Tilbury’s market offering at a crucial time for the UK economy. Our £250m investment in an expanded ferry terminal at Tilbury2 will add further scope to grow our P&O routes to-and-from northern Europe in 2020.”

P&O Ferries has chartered the Caroline Russ to service the new route, with two sailings every weekday and one each on Saturday and Sunday. The eight-hour sailing will have capacity for 100 units of freight, with a total of 50,000 expected to be carried in the first 12 months. It is expected that time-sensitive supermarket goods including fresh fruit and vegetables will be transported on the route.

The new river berth at the Port of Tilbury is scheduled to open in April next year, enabling P&O Ferries to treble volumes on its existing Zeebrugge-Tilbury services to 600,000 loads of freight a year. An onward rail connection to Daventry is also expected to be operational in 2020, mirroring the rail connections linking the Port of Calais with Le Boulou, Turin and Orbassano on the Continent.

P&O Ferries is a leading pan-European ferry and logistics company, sailing 27,000 times a year on eight major routes between Britain, France, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Belgium. It operates more than 20 vessels which carry 8.4 million passengers and 2.3 million freight units every year.

Together with its logistics business, P&O Ferrymasters, the company also operates integrated road and rail links to countries across the continent including Italy, Poland, Germany, Spain and Romania, and facilitates the onward movement of goods to Britain from Asian countries via the Silk Road. P&O Ferries is part of DP World, a leading enabler of global trade and an integral part of the supply chain.

ENDS

Capital Cruising has won a bid to host the prestigious Cruise Europe Conference for the first time in Edinburgh next year. The annual three-day event, which will be held in venues across the Capital in March 2020 including a gala dinner in the Museum of Scotland, is the largest and best attended cruise event in Europe with over 150 executives flying into Edinburgh from around the world.

Forth Port’s cruise business, Capital Cruising, will host the event after successfully presenting to the Cruise Europe team in Bruges, Belgium earlier this year. The conference gives Edinburgh the chance to showcase the unique attractions of the beautiful UNESCO city to an influential cruise audience during Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.

Edinburgh remains a popular cruise destination for visitors. Last year, Edinburgh was named Western Europe’s Top Cruise Destination 2018 for the first time. The award, managed by Cruise Critic, which is the world’s largest online cruise resource, is based solely on consumer ratings and reviews posted to the Cruise Critic website over the year – so it is first-hand feedback from cruisers themselves. Edinburgh won the award ahead of other amazing cities including Lisbon, Bilbao and Amsterdam.

Event host, Rob Mason, Head of Cruise for Capital Cruising in Scotland said: “This is brilliant news for Edinburgh and Scotland’s cruise market as we are set to welcome 150 of the world’s important players in the cruise sector to the City next year. This is a great opportunity to showcase what Edinburgh and the wider area has to offer cruise visitors and we are excited to be chosen as the hosts for 2020.

Scotland as a whole is a major draw for the cruise market, Edinburgh in particular is a ‘must-see’. The cruise season in Scotland is well underway and across all our ports we are expecting to welcome around 170,000 passengers this year which is a strong increase since last year.”

Commenting on the Edinburgh event, Jens Skrede, Managing Director of Cruise Europe said: “As soon as Edinburgh applied to be the hosting port, I knew they were frontrunners to be selected. Edinburgh is a marquee city which is on many people`s bucket list. In terms of cruise calls this is a great opportunity to showcase what not only Edinburgh, but the whole of Scotland has to offer cruise vessels and their guests.

For Cruise Europe it is a great venue, as we already have had very good feedback from decision makers working for the cruise lines that they want to join our event, network with our members and see what Edinburgh and surroundings have to offer. On a personal note, I can’t wait for March 2020!”

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “With the Year of Coasts and Waters right around the corner it is wonderful and timely to have such an important cruise event held in Scotland and a great achievement for Capital Cruising.

 “The Cruise Europe Conference shines a global spotlight on Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland with key players from across the world attending and it also provides a chance to highlight the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 which will celebrate Scotland’s stunning coastlines and inland waterways, our cultural and natural heritage, and food and drink.

 “The cruise sector is hugely significant to our tourism industry – attracting visitors to our ports who then venture across the country, which in turn contributes to the economy and helps to create jobs and sustain communities.”

Capital Cruising runs seven busy cruise terminals and anchorages across the UK and is the only port operator to offer unrivalled direct access to Edinburgh for cruise passengers.  With ports in Leith, Rosyth and anchorages at Newhaven and South Queensferry, passengers are within easy reach of the famous attractions in Edinburgh. Last year (2018), Capital Cruising welcomed 114 liners into the River Forth with over 150,000 passengers onboard. 2019 will see further growth in passenger numbers with an estimated 155,000 passengers expected to visit the country. Forth Ports is currently looking at further options on the River Forth to accommodate larger cruise liners along-side.

Cruise ship holidays continue to grow in popularity which is great news for Scotland’s cruise business which is on track to welcome 1 million passengers annually across the country (source: Cruise Scotland). There has been a significant increase over the past decade with international travellers enjoying world-wide travel from the luxurious comfort of a well-equipped cruise liner calling into major cities around the globe. The cruise business is an important economic boost for Scotland and the local areas where the liners call, with many local businesses and attractions benefitting from the tourism spend.

11 September 019                                        – ends –

Port of Tilbury, London’s major port, this month marks the 50^th anniversary of its grain terminal, the UK’s largest terminal for the import and export of grain.

Built at a cost of £53.5 million in today’s money, the grain terminal has processed over 35 million tonnes of product since opening in 1969. It currently handles two million tonnes of grain, wheat, barley and beans every year to help meet the UK’s import and export requirements.

A vital supplier to major global brands, grain is handled at the terminal daily through its import and export capability and is a key supporter of the agriculture industry in the south east of England as well as the flour milling and bakery industries. The terminal regularly handles cargoes from in and out of the UK and to countries across the world from the USA and Canada to France, Thailand and Australia.

With two grain towers on site, the terminal can discharge and load vessels simultaneously and with a five-star food hygiene rating the facility has the trust of major companies. The grain terminal is fully automated and linked to the two associated flour mills located within the port.

Grain brought into the terminal can be made into flour to be used for every day goods stocked in supermarkets including pasta, baked goods and malt – used to make beer and the soya found in baby food.

Since Thames Grain was added to the terminal in 1983 it has allowed UK grown grain to be sampled, tested and tipped prior to export. This process is used to support the grain terminal’s major export of UK wheat, barley and human consumption beans to destinations across the world.

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at The Port of Tilbury said: “This year marks a special anniversary for Port of Tilbury’s grain terminal which plays a huge role in supplying businesses from around the world with the grain needed to support their brands.

“In half a century the grain terminal has processed over 35 million tonnes of grain, wheat, barley and beans while also assisting in the production of flour in its two associated mills to provide supermarkets with some of their most popular products.

“Port of Tilbury continues to invest in this vital asset to ensure it continues as the largest terminal for the import and export of grain in the country for the next 50 years.”

The Tilbury Grain terminal is the key strategic facility in the South East of the UK for the grain import and export markets handling grain from around the world. The grain terminal has over 200 silo’s ranging in size from 60mt to over 2000mt, supporting the flour and ingredient market for the southeast, London and up to the Midlands. Its berths have space to host post-panamax vessels – greater than 40,000 tonnes – but can also handle a range of coaster vessels on its inner, outer and coaster berths. The terminal also operates a monthly coastal shipping service from Tilbury to its sister port in Kirkcaldy, Scotland for Carr’s Milling.

Earlier this year, Port of Tilbury completed a major storage expansion at the grain terminal as part of its growth strategy. The new flat store increases the capacity by an additional 16,000 tonnes of both import and export wheat.

Ends                                                                                                   6 September 2019