The London International Cruise Terminal, located at The Port of Tilbury, warmly welcomes the arrival of the Disney Magic cruise ship this week as passengers begin their “Disney Magic at Sea” UK staycation sailings.

The magnificent vessel arrived into London’s nearest deep-water terminal today (14 September) and will call again at selected dates until 1 October [see images with this release].

Featuring enchanted entertainment, the Disney Magic cruise ship will sail 2- and 3-night voyages from London Tilbury. The brand-new, limited time sailings provide guests the opportunity to experience the magic of Disney Cruise Line close to home.

Commenting on the arrival of Disney Magic, Steve Lyons, Head of Cruise for Capital Cruising said: “It is very exciting to the welcome Disney Magic to the London International Cruise Terminal. Our cruise terminal has been given the Disney’ magic treatment and passengers will enjoy their experience from the moment they arrive at our terminal. We look forward to welcoming the vessel back for a number of calls over the next month.”

Disney Cruise Line is implementing multiple layers of health and safety measures considering guidance from the U.K. government, health authorities and medical experts. This includes requiring guests 18 years of age and older to be fully vaccinated, COVID-19 testing, health screenings, face coverings, reduced guest capacity, physical distancing and enhanced cleaning, among other measures. More details regarding these measures will be available prior to booking.

14 September 2021                            – ends –

It’s official – Leith’s new Community Fund has been incorporated as a Scottish charity. The new Fund, which will be governed by Forth Ports and The Leith Trust, aims to support projects that are important to the local community of Leith.

Forth Ports has seed funded the Trust with a significant contribution of £200,000 and is now actively inviting other businesses in the area to support and contribute to this important community fund.

Once launched later this year, the Fund will provide support for the work of local charities in the local Leith area with particular emphasis on projects tackling isolation or loneliness, enhancing the local area or providing educational opportunities for local people.

Commenting on the establishment of the Fund, Charles Hammond OBE, CEO of Forth Ports, said: “Forth Ports is proud to be part of the Leith community and we are committed to supporting Leith for the long term. Like most communities, we know there are always local issues that need funding, and we hope that the establishment of this Fund, with our seed funding of £200,000, will help to make a difference.

“This has been an incredibly tough time for everyone as we all navigate through the global pandemic and we see this as a great opportunity for the community of Leith to decide themselves how the money is spent.

“We will be speaking to businesses in Leith over the coming months to encourage them to support and contribute to the Fund.”

Sir Andrew Cubie CBE, Chair of The Leith Trust said: “This is a significant announcement for Leith and I greatly welcome the leadership shown by Forth Ports in priming the Community Fund. All of us involved will work hard to encourage others to contribute as the purposes of the Fund will be of significant value to the Leith community. The impact of the pandemic has slowed the establishment, but anticipating a formal launch later this year, we would be pleased to hear from those, who might in whatever way, be interested in lending support.”

Once launched later this year, the Fund will focus on supporting projects in the following areas:

• education and the development of youth skills and training programmes for people of all ages
• community development
• financial hardship
• countering loneliness or isolation
• support further the relief of domestic violence

The Leith Community Trust is a registered charity in Scotland and will be Governed by The Leith Trust and Forth Ports.

14 September 2021                    – ends –

Following the success of the Port of Tilbury’s Recruitment day in June, a group of 12 apprentices have joined the port after a competitive interview process.

The group of young people have now started their two-year apprenticeship which includes full training and accredited qualifications giving these new candidates the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications to work across all areas of the fast growing port.

During their first week they have got straight down to business, starting with a company induction including a focus on health and safety and a tour of the large port estate. They were all kitted out with personal protection equipment before getting into the driving seat of a forklift truck as part of the training for the novice operator licence. The training team at the port’s bespoke Logistics Academy have been impressed with how well the group are working after only one week.

Paul Dale Asset and Site Director for the Port of Tilbury said: “The Port of Tilbury Operations Apprenticeship gives young people a great insight into working in all areas of our diverse port. With on-the-job training, we are supporting a new generation of skilled workers that will be part of the Port of Tilbury for years to come. It has been a tough time for many young people recently and it has been great to see their enthusiasm and keenness to do well as they begin their career with us.”

For more about careers at Forth Ports and current vacancies, click here: https://forthports.co.uk/careers/

6 September 2021                                                   – ends-

Forth Ports has today (6 September) announced plans to fully repair the Category A Listed Victoria Swing Bridge located at the Port of Leith to conserve the bridge for the future and create a useable space for the local community.

The private six figure investment will see the bridge, which is the largest counterweighted swing bridge in Scotland, fully repaired, with a phased programme of specialist works which will protect the character and form of the bridge.

Forth Ports’ plans are outlined in a Listed Building Consent application which has been lodged with City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). The proposed repair programme is to be carried out in phases and includes:

• The full refurbishment of the northern and southern walkways
• Re-decking the central carriage way
• Replacement of the decked turning circle areas
• A full repair and repaint of metalwork on the bridge

The Victoria Swing Bridge was designed by Alexander Rendel and opened in 1874 to provide an efficient road and railway route for the port following the completion of construction of Albert Dock in 1869. The bridge was originally B listed but was upgraded to an A listing in 2014. It is constructed of riveted wrought iron, timber and steel and originally carried a double rail track along its central deck (providing access for both trains and road vehicles) and features pedestrian walkways on either side (NB: see Notes to Editors for more detailed information).

Following receipt of Listed Building Consent from the Council, Phase I – the refurbishment of the north and south pedestrian walkways – is expected to be undertaken this year, with the remaining work anticipated being undertaken in 2022. Pedestrian access to the bridge for the local community will be maintained for the duration of the works.

Commenting on the project, Charles Hammond, Group Chief Executive at Forth Ports, said: “The Victoria Swing Bridge is a well kent sight in Leith and it is an important and rare surviving example of our heritage. The plans we have submitted to the Council have been well thought through and will ensure that the repairs are appropriate for the conservation of this important landmark.

“We want to also create a useable space for the local community and we hope that once the bridge has been restored, people will be able to enjoy this historic space.”

6 September 2021                              – ends –

Independent energy consulting firm, Wood Mackenzie, has this morning (17 August)  published a research paper recommending that the Firth of Forth become a Net Zero hub for Scotland – https://www.woodmac.com/press-releases/firth-of-forth-net-zero/

Forth Ports owns a number of the ports on the Forth Estuary including at Grangemouth, Leith and Rosyth and has welcomed the Wood Mackenzie paper.

Charles Hammond OBE, Group CEO at Forth Ports, said:

 “Wood Mackenzie’s report and conclusions are timely and incisive. At Forth Ports, our vision is to create a Greenport ‘Hub’ and ‘Green Growth Corridor’ at the heart of Scotland that delivers a just and practical energy transition to meet the UK and Scottish Governments’ Net Zero and Energy Transition targets.

 “We want to collaborate with the whole of Team Scotland to create new, high quality green energy jobs that will enhance Scotland’s Central Belt industrial powerhouse while tackling deprivation around our ports, contributing to the levelling up of the large industrial areas in our coastal communities. This is already under way in Leith where we have announced a privately financed £40m investment in a renewable energy hub at the port.

 “These industrial areas must play a vital role in facilitating the country’s Net Zero and Energy Transition ambitions and creating new, high quality green energy jobs. We want our ports in the Forth Estuary to assist Scotland in achieving its carbon reduction targets by supporting offshore wind development and working with industry and stakeholders to deliver new, low carbon fuels and technologies, such as hydrogen and carbon capture.”

17 August

The Port of Dundee has today (Wednesday, 28 July) welcomed its first domestic cruise call – the Marella Explorer 2 – in over 18 months following confirmation that domestic cruising to Scottish ports can safely restart and Scotland is now open for cruise business.

The inaugural arrival of the Marella Explorer 2 is the start of the Scottish cruise season for Forth Ports’ cruise business Capital Cruising which welcomes cruise ships into their Scottish ports of Leith, Rosyth and Dundee and anchorages at Newhaven and South Queensferry.

The cruise industry and Capital Cruising have worked in collaboration with the Scottish and UK Governments over the past few months to develop and strengthen health and safety measures which go above and beyond any other travel sector. These measures will ensure that not only passengers, crew and the port teams are operating in a safe manner, but that the local communities the cruise lines are visiting, have the confidence that strict health procedures are in place.

Marella Explorer 2, part of the TUI cruise business, is sailing from Newcastle on her domestic ‘British Treasures’ cruise trip calling into Dundee on 28 July as part of a 6-night cruise around the UK. The 800 passengers on board spent the day in Dundee or on carefully planned excursions before departing for their next port of call.

Rob Mason, Head of Cruise for Capital Capital Cruising said: ‘‘After an extremely challenging 18 months for us all, we are extremely pleased to welcome the Marella Explorer 2 into Dundee. The health and well-being of the ship’s passengers, crew, our own port staff and the Dundee community being visited is our top priority.

This first call into Dundee is a clear sign that there is a demand for UK cruise holidays and we look forward to welcoming more calls into our ports throughout the season as the industry safely restarts and begins a gradual recovery.”

28 July 2021                                      – ends –

Forth Ports, Scotland’s largest ports operator and owner of seven Scottish ports on the east coast, has today intimated to the Scottish Government that it will submit a proposal for a Green Port encompassing key ports, industrial complexes and logistics centres along the north and south shores of the Firth of Forth and at Edinburgh Airport.

The Scottish Government has invited expressions of interest for the creation of a Green Port, which is a large, zoned area with a defined boundary within which operators and businesses can benefit from a package of financial and customs incentives which can attract inward investment.

Subject to sight of the Scottish Government’s full Green Ports prospectus, Forth Ports, which has been a port operator for over 50 years, proposes that the Firth of Forth Green Port will encompass strategic locations along the Forth Estuary, including Grangemouth (home to Scotland’s Freight Hub and principal petrochemical cluster) and the Port of Leith, where Forth Ports announced in May that it plans to create a £40 million renewable energy hub.

Fife and the City of Edinburgh are also expected to feature in Forth Ports’ Green Ports bid. Forth Ports are currently evaluating sites in Fife along the North Shore of the Firth of Forth from Longannet to Rosyth. Edinburgh Airport is also expected to feature for its international connectivity. Each of these locations are uniquely placed to deliver on all of the objectives of the proposed Green Ports policy.

Forth Ports, supported by Edinburgh City Council, Falkirk Council and Fife Council, believes that the Firth of Forth Green Port will play a major role in Scotland’s recovery from Covid-19 and accelerate the country’s transition to meeting net zero targets, by providing investment incentives, with a long-term positive impact on Scotland’s economic growth.

 Charles Hammond OBE, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports, said:

“Our interest in creating a Firth of Forth Green Port is underpinned by our belief in the government policy behind it to create economic zones for investment and regeneration and we are committed to supporting the development of this Green Port policy.

 “The Firth of Forth, spanning from Central Scotland to the country’s east coast, is the critical engine for Scotland’s economic recovery. The creation of the Firth of Forth Green Port will encourage greater inclusive growth, fair work practices and help deliver Scotland’s net zero economy.

 “We are starting to see investment and regeneration benefits since the Thames Freeport* announcement earlier this year and we believe it is as important that Scotland’s main industrial and business area sees similar benefits in a similar timescale. This would support the transition to net zero and at the same time, create good quality green industrial employment”

*Thames Freeport was announced by the Westminster Government as one of the UK’s new Freeports in March 2021. Thames Freeport is an economic zone connecting Ford’s world-class Dagenham engine plant to the global ports at London Gateway and The Port ofTilbury, with an emphasis on introducing electric and autonomous vehicle technology along the A13 corridor into London and highlighting the role of the River Thames in a prosperous, global Britain. See the Thames Freeport website for more information.

27 July 2021                                        – ends –

The Western Harbour housing development at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh is “going green” with a new proposal to significantly reduce the consented number of car parking spaces on-site alongside other incentives to reduce carbon emissions and plans to create an environmental education centre.

As part of its wider net zero agenda for the Port of Leith, Forth Ports has submitted an amended outline planning application to City of Edinburgh Council to actively drive the adoption of green energy and reduce CO2 emissions at the £250m development of the first 938 homes at Western Harbour. Planning permission for the latest phase in this development of one, two and three bedroom homes was granted in June 2020 but Forth Ports no longer believes that these proposals are sufficient to achieve its, and the city’s, carbon reduction aspirations.

The principal features of the amended plans are:

• Reducing on-site parking to 326 spaces from 570 – down 43%
• Parking levels will be significantly reduced from 61% as consented to 35%
• Replacing carbon intensive structures with centralised, electric vehicle enabled spaces
• Significantly increasing car club provision
• A unique “Go Green” Hub, including an Education Centre that will:
  • Encourage residents to join the green revolution
  • Persuade car users to adopt other, greener forms of transport
  • Facilitate E-cycle hire
  • Support E-car sharing
  • Publicise bus and tram options

The centre will aim to integrate information on domestic and transport energy use to give residents an overview of energy usage trends and costs, encouraging them to use the alternatives on offer.

Forth Ports is in dialogue with E-car sharing companies to design a package specifically for residents of Western Harbour, to tie into the “Go Green” Hub.

Charles Hammond, Chief Executive Officer of Forth Ports Group, said:

“It’s becoming clearer by the day that not only do we have a responsibility to reduce carbon emissions but that there is a real appetite for this change too. At Forth Ports, we are committed to supporting this, not only through our major industrial projects such as the creation of a £40m renewable energy hub within the Port of Leith, but also through housing development projects such as Western Harbour.

 “We want to continue the regeneration of Leith, but we believe that it needs to be done in a way that supports the move to net zero carbon. This is truly a transition, and we are confident that the steps we are proposing for Western Harbour will support the kind of behavioural change needed for Scotland to achieve its net zero aspirations.   

 “Forth Ports is proud of our role in helping create a much more vibrant and successful community and we are determined to do that in a way that is sustainable. These new homes for families will create a fantastic place to live in Leith beside one of the finest, and biggest, new parks in Scotland and, of course, our fantastic waterfront.”

The “Go Green” Hub’s Education Centre will be the first of its kind in Scotland and an important new attraction in Leith. It will also feature a CO2 emissions clock – a constant reminder to residents of how much they are cutting carbon emissions by adopting this approach. And in another first for a housing development of its type, the education centre will be made available to Edinburgh schoolchildren and teachers as a resource to promote education on sustainability issues.

The development will deliver a total of 2,000 homes to be completed over the next five years. These homes will sit alongside the recently completely Harbour Gateway, already created by Forth Ports and Rettie & Co. The development also includes one of the largest parks to be created in Edinburgh in 150 years – at 4.4 hectares, bigger than West Princes Street Gardens. The combination of this new park, the development’s carbon and energy efficient heating system and its “Go Green” Hub and Education Centre will make Western Harbour one of the most environmentally friendly housing developments in the City of Edinburgh.

The new homes will create a whole new community alongside a new 540 pupil primary school and nursery which is nearing completion and is planned for opening in late 2021.

In the currently consented plans for Western Harbour, car parking was to have been accommodated within carbon intensive parking decks constructed as part of the homes on the development. Most of the parking decks will now be omitted and replaced with 10,950 sq.m. of landscaped areas, directly accessible from the homes on-site and saving an estimated 4,555 tonnes of CO2e.

As petrol and diesel car use reduces over time, as forecast, the infrastructure will already be in place to convert further parking spaces to E-car spaces or, should overall car ownership decline, be repurposed.

Matthew Benson, Director, Development Services at Rettie & Co, said:

“It makes no sense to ‘bake in’ acres of underground concrete car parking spaces that are likely to be largely redundant by 2030 and which cannot be easily re-purposed.

 “We are all becoming more aware of our carbon footprint and in particular the impact that our travel choices have on that. In such a well-connected city like Edinburgh, the opportunity is growing for making different choices, but this change takes time. Our proposals recognise the need to help people embrace this transition over the coming years.

 “By amending these plans now, we can create a cleaner, more environmentally friendly place to live, providing residents at Western Harbour with homes whose green credentials will stand the test of time.”

Western Harbour will be one of the most sustainably connected developments in Scotland, with direct links to the extended Edinburgh tram system and the Lothian Buses network, while offering easy access to E-car clubs, E-bikes and the city’s bike path network.

12^th July 2021                                              – ends –

The Port of Tilbury, London’s fastest growing port welcomed hundreds of people from the local area to their recruitment day on Tuesday 29^th June 2021 at the London Cruise Terminal.

The event was designed to showcase the fantastic career and skills development opportunities the business has available across the port for adults of all ages. Attendees took the opportunity to speak to many people from across the port and some also tried their hand at moving containers using the digital simulator.

Commenting on the event Paul Dale, Asset & Site Director said: “Our event yesterday was a great success with hundreds of people of all ages coming to the cruise terminal to find out about our career opportunities at the port.

 Recruiting has never been so important as we enter the recovery stage of the pandemic with a clear focus on job creation and skills development. I am proud of the role that the port and our teams will play in the economic recovery through investment and growth.

 The Port of Tilbury has been in operation for over 135 years and we are a major local employer. Many of our people at the port have enjoyed long careers with 55% of our management team starting as apprenticeships including myself.”

 Michelle Primrose, Group HR Manager at Forth Ports said: “I am so pleased that so many people came along to our recruitment event this week. This was the first time that we have hosted an event on this scale and I hope that the people who came along will one day be working for us in one of our many roles across the port.

We are a growing port and we need a strong workforce of skills across all our activities to ensure we can continue to thrive in the future. My sincere thanks to all the team who made the event happen.”

For more about careers at Forth Ports and current vacancies, click here: https://forthports.co.uk/careers/

Careers at Forth Ports

The port has many opportunities to build a lifelong career or to develop skills for the workplace from early careers including apprenticeships; operations, engineering or in the port’s vital support areas such as finance or procurement.

APPRENTICESHIPS – as part of the recruitment event, the port has 12 apprentices in full time roles across the port following the completion of a successful two-year programme. The Warehouse and Supply Chain Operative Apprenticeship programme has been running since 2016 with 26 apprentices (aged between 18 – 24) now having successfully completed this apprenticeship. The apprentices developed their skills over a 2-year period and every one of the apprentices including the 10 young apprentices who have completed this year, have been kept on in full times roles across the port.

KICKSTART – The Port of Tilbury, in partnership with the PLA, announced in February that it was offering over 30 unemployed young people the opportunity to join the Port of Tilbury and Port of London Authority (PLA) in Gravesend for paid six-month traineeships this spring, as part of the Government’s £2.4 billion Kickstart work programme. The opportunities available range from administration through to operations, will give 16 to 24-year olds a chance to gain important experience in a real working environment.

Routes to LOGISTICS is a new programme which was launched in March 2021 for the local Tilbury community. The programme runs an introductory training course of up to three days on working in the Transport and Logistics industry. The purpose is to build aspiration and develop follow on support and training, tailored to the individual to help them into work. The course includes access to key accredited courses First Aid, Health and Safety, Fork Lift Novice Licence and IOSH managing safety course with additional e- earning modules that can be accessed from anywhere and cover all aspects of personal development, accredited health and safety and aspects of the Logistics Industry.

30 June 2021                                                            – ends-