The Port of Greenock has been awarded a new weekly deep-sea container service that will directly connect Scotland to the Mediterranean market of Turkey.
The new call on the Mediterranean Shipping Company’s Türkiye-to-and-from-UK West Coast service is an extension of the existing service, which already calls at the Port of Liverpool.
Seal of approval
The addition of the Port of Greenock to the route is a seal of approval of the port’s market-renowned offering, consolidated by owner Peel Ports’ recent £25 million investment in two new ship-to-shore cranes, capable of servicing larger post-panamax container vessels.
The extension of the route presents a compelling option for direct sea connectivity for exporters and importers to and from Scotland. The MSC Freeport arrived at the port on Monday as part of the weekly service, before departing on Tuesday night.
New service rotation
The new service will further provide a boost for Scottish exports, including commodities
The new service rotation, which also includes Spain, Portugal, and France, will significantly enhance sea-borne connectivity from Scotland to the Far East, India, and Pakistan, with reliable direct mother vessel-to-mother vessel transshipment connection in Sines, and will further support decarbonisation of the supply chain.
The new service will further provide a boost for Scottish exports, including commodities, such as whisky and other alcohol types and plastics, as well as significant imports of food, packaging materials, and manufactured products.
Enhanced UK west coast connectivity
Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said, “It’s fantastic to have this vote of confidence in the Port of Greenock, and we look forward to welcoming this game-changing new service to Scotland."
He adds, “This direct call will increase trade between Scotland and Turkey, while also providing enhanced UK west coast connectivity, as well as connectivity to the more distant markets in the US and Asia. It will also serve to reduce both transit times and carbon emissions in the supply chain, to and from Scotland."
Operational efficiency and productivity
Jim McSporran continues, "Our £25m investment in two new cranes, which will be fully operational later this year, is the largest single investment in the terminal since it opened in 1969."
He further said, "These modern and technologically advanced cranes will not only significantly increase operational efficiency and productivity in the port, but will also increase our capability to service bigger post-panamax vessels. With 17m higher and 7.5m longer outreach than the current cranes, we will be able to service significantly higher on-deck stowage and broader beam."
Strategic importance of the port
The location of the port is of strategic importance to major importers and exporters and, as Scotland’s west coast container terminal, the port is responsible for the safe handling of a throughput of 100,000 TEUs a year.
The west-facing freight port has been at the heart of Scotland’s shipping industry since 1876.