Peel Ports Group News
A £150m upgrade to an Ayrshire marine yard has been given a boost as it is awarded planning permission, paving the way for increased offshore wind power off the UK’s west coast. Peel Ports Clydeport has secured permission for the complete redevelopment of the Hunterston marine yard as it prepares the site for major renewables infrastructure. Upgrades to the marine yard The overall redevelopment of Hunterston is expected to attract £3.5bn in inward investment and create over...
The Port of Greenock has officially unveiled its new £25m ship-to-shore cranes as the investment boosts productivity at the facility. Owner Peel Ports Clydeport welcomed guests to the port today for a ceremony to celebrate the biggest-ever investment in Greenock’s container facilities. The west-facing freight port’s new infrastructure is already benefitting customers, with one vessel recently departing 13 hours earlier than planned because of the quicker turnaround ti...
The event, organised by the industry’s regional cluster organisation, and hosted by CEO, Ruth Wood, in collaboration with Peel Ports Group and Connected Places Catapult, was hosted in the iconic location of the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority at Mann Island. Maritime Minister, Mike Kane MP, gave the keynote address, his first major speech in his new role at the Department for Transport, and panellist contributions were received from Stephen Carr, Chief Commercial Officer...
Peel Ports was pleased to welcome the first call of a new direct container service connecting the UK’s North-West with the Far East this week. MSC’s new Britannia Service creates a unique corridor between the two markets and significantly opens up export and import opportunities for businesses looking to utilise the Port of Liverpool’s unique proximity to the heart of the UK. Britannia Service The new service follows increased demand from retailers and importers looking to d...
Peel Ports Group has appointed a new Head of Marine in Scotland. Alex McIntosh has been appointed to the senior position at Peel Ports Clydeport and becomes the first woman to hold the role for the port group in Scotland. Alex McIntosh Alex recently returned to the business after becoming its first-ever female pilot in Scotland in early 2010. Based at the Port of Greenock, her new role involves overseeing the safe navigation of vessels – ranging from luxury cruise ships to contain...
It was destroyed in an explosion during the Blitz, hosted Cunard liners during the 1960s, and was a key link for trade in everything from sugar to second-hand appliances. Now an industrial site on the Mersey docklands is looking for a new occupier to continue the story of the extraordinary site. The rare lot of land at Huskisson Dock, owned by the UK’s second largest port operator, Peel Ports, will serve as an ideal hub for companies working in the distribution, manufacturing, and sp...
MSC has announced the creation of its new service – Britannia – that will provide increased port connections via a unique corridor from China - Vietnam to Liverpool. The new loop provides access to the port of Vung Tau, creating a direct service to Liverpool and MSC’s hubs in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, connecting Scandinavia and Baltic Destinations. This will increase its coverage from China and Vietnam to the UK and Northwest Continent. Other direct services The first...
A UK-first collaboration is set to use satellites to monitor coastal changes in a bid to create safer shipping navigation channels. The project will see Peel Ports, the UK’s second largest port operator, partner with the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO), to employ satellite surveillance and assess where maintenance is needed over six months. Coastal mapping technology Funded by UK Space Agency Small Business Research (SBRI), the NOC will use its p...
Cunard’s historic new Queen Anne vessel arrived at the cruise line’s spiritual home of Liverpool in a landmark moment for Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH) and Peel Ports Group’s new partnership for Liverpool Cruise Port. The majestic 322-metre ship’s maiden call in the city marks the first major arrival since GPH, the world’s largest cruise port operator, signed a 50-year agreement in April with Peel Ports Group’s subsidiary, The Mersey Docks And Harbour Compan...
The first of two new £25 million ship-to-shore cranes arrived aboard a vessel at its new home in a major boost for productivity at the Port of Greenock. The 932-tonne structure was transported to the west-facing freight port following a 1-day journey from Cork in Ireland, where it was built. Work will shortly begin to install the vital infrastructure at the port, and it will be fully operational later this year following stringent testing. Crane capability The cranes will help accommoda...
Peel Ports Clydeport has signalled its intention to invest up to £150 million in the redevelopment of the Hunterston marine yard in Ayrshire, as it prepares the site to support the UK’s offshore wind sector. Hunterston PARC is being prepared for occupancy as it seeks to attract major offshore wind projects, amid growing demand for the offshore wind supply chain on the UK’s west coast. Redevelopment of the site A formal planning application for the redevelopment of the site h...
Scottish exporters of perishable goods are set to benefit from a £750,000 investment into reefer point infrastructure at the Port of Greenock, which marks a significant upgrade to the country’s refrigerated cargo capabilities. The substantial increase in reefer points, from 32 to 220, solidifies the port’s position as a pioneer hub for refrigerated and frozen cargo on the West Coast. It will significantly increase ease of access to global markets for food and drink manufacture...
Shipping company ACL’s new transatlantic service in partnership with BG Freight Line and Peel Ports Group will have transit times up to two weeks faster than any similar service travelling between Dublin/Belfast and North America via a UK or Continental transshipment port. The partnership will offer importers and exporters quicker than ever before access to/from the USA and Canada with direct calls at the major ports of Halifax, New York, Baltimore and Norfolk via the Port of Liverpool....
Shipping company ACL’s new transatlantic service in partnership with BG Freight Line and Peel Ports Group will have transit times up to two weeks faster than any similar service traveling between Dublin/Belfast and North America via a UK or Continental transshipment port. Service access and upgrade The partnership will offer importers and exporters quicker access to/from the USA and Canada with direct calls at the major ports of Halifax, New York, Baltimore, and Norfolk via the Port...
BG Freight Line has unveiled its greenest ships yet with four new vessels that will help its customers significantly reduce their carbon emissions. State-of-the-art scrubber The new ships will use a state-of-the-art scrubber to catch CO2 and sulphur particles, as well as have increased cargo capacity which will result in a lower carbon footprint per container. They are also equipped to handle biomethanol, allowing them to be powered by this sustainable fuel source as it becomes increasingly...
One of Scotland’s major cruise ports is gearing up for another bumper cruise season following the launch of its new £20m visitor centre. Greenock Ocean Terminal and the River Clyde will welcome 79 cruise liners, carrying up to 115,000 passengers throughout 2024, with early bookings for 2025 already heading towards a new record for the port. Regal Princess The cruise port welcomed its first big vessel of the season on April 26, 2024, with the huge Regal Princess, capable of carryin...
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...
Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second largest port operator, has announced its Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham will utilise energy from hydropower. It’s the latest move to drive forward Peel Ports’ ambition to become net-zero across its network and operations by 2040. Archimedean screw generator The port operator has partnered with Czech renewable energy specialist Hydropol to install a state-of-the-art twin Archimedean screw generator, at the site’s 30-foot lock. Conn...
A new agreement has been signed to secure the future of Liverpool City Council in a major deal announced on Wednesday 3rd April between Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH) and Peel Ports Group. The agreement will see the world’s largest independent cruise port operator operate services at Liverpool Cruise Terminal for a period of 50 years. Crucially, it will see GPH invest some £25 million in upgrading the terminal’s infrastructure, improving its operational capability and helping...
Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, has announced E.ON as one of its net-zero partners, helping to meet its goal of net-zero emissions by 2040. Roof-mounted solar energy system As the first of several projects, plans have been announced to install the UK’s largest roof-mounted solar energy system at the Port of Liverpool, alongside a future project to repower the existing wind turbines on the banks of the River Mersey with fewer, larger turbines. This is...
Civil engineering contractors are being invited to express interest in working on upgrades at the Hunterston Port and Resource Campus (PARC) construction yard in North Ayrshire. The former coal port is being redeveloped by its owner, Peel Ports Group Clydeport. Much of the site is already under option, including for an undersea energy cable factory. Formal procurement process Peel has already begun local statutory consultation processes, including public consultations, before submitting appli...
The crucial importance of the maritime industry to the Liverpool City Region was the focus of a full day tour for the Shadow Maritime Minister, Mike Kane MP, when he visited the area on Thursday 15th February 2024. Hosted by Mersey Maritime, alongside some of its key partners, he was given a detailed update by the regional cluster organisation for the industry in the North West before embarking on a visit to Cammell Laird and the Port of Liverpool in the afternoon. During lunch, Mr Kane also v...
Major retail industry figures are urging the sector to import goods via UK ports closer to their end destination, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and inefficiencies across the country’s supply chain. The call comes as 90% of deep-sea containerised cargo enters the UK via southern ports, despite 60% of these goods being destined for the north. This creates the need for long road journeys, across UK roads, to get retail cargo to its end destination, generating significant greenhous...
Peel Ports Logistics has signed a deal to become renewable energy specialist Drax’s new shipping agency service provider for vessels importing biomass into Liverpool. The leading shipping and freight forwarder will support the arrival of all Drax’s ships from locations such as North America into the Port of Liverpool’s £100m biomass terminal. The renewable fuel is then transported to Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, the UK’s single largest genera...
Peel Ports Group has strengthened its global container operations with the appointment of a new strategic commercial director. Marcus Connolly joins the port operator with more than 25 years of experience in international container shipping and logistics, having held roles at A.P. Moller–Maersk and NYSHEX. Based at the Port of Liverpool, Marcus will be responsible for developing transformational growth opportunities through group-wide strategic partnerships as well as further develo...
Peel Ports Group has become the first port operator to join the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to strengthen its relationships with retailers. The UK’s second largest port operator has joined the BRC as an associate member and will utilise its membership to communicate directly and engage with beneficial cargo owners (BCOs). Series of webinars Peel Ports will also host a series of webinars for BRC members to provide greater insight into the pivotal role ports play in improving supp...
As of January 2024, shipping operator WEC Lines is introducing a new direct service between Agadir in Morocco and the Port of Liverpool, offering a fast and green alternative for fresh produce importers to overland trucking. It is thought to be the first such service and is aimed at taking advantage of Morocco overtaking Spain as one of the biggest suppliers of tomatoes to the UK. Exploring alternate options Roger Megann, Managing Director of WEC Lines, said, “There’s a gap i...
Global ferry and port operator, Stena Line has signed a significant deal with Peel Ports Group, a major UK port operator, to operate from Heysham Port for the next 77 years until 2100. The Swedish ferry company runs a twice-daily freight service from Belfast-Heysham providing a vital trade corridor between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. 12 Quays Terminal The collaborative agreement demonstrates the strong working partnership between the two organisations and seeks to further strengt...
Regional cluster organisation, Mersey Maritime are delighted to announce that they have surpassed their initial pledge of £20,000 for The Hive Youth Zone, a local charity providing essential support for disadvantaged youth. The impressive sum of £43,700 was raised as part of Mersey Maritime’s 20-year anniversary celebrations. Just over 12 months ago, Mersey Maritime pledged to support The Hive Youth Zone. Located just a short distance from Mersey Maritime’s headquarters...
At Peel Ports Group, working closely with major cargo owners and shipping lines to find a solution which addresses a long-standing UK cargo flow distribution challenge. The efficient movement of goods is the lifeblood of any economy, and in the UK, the distribution of freight plays a crucial role in sustaining supply chains. However, the unequal distribution of freight by sea across the country poses significant challenges to both efficiency and sustainability. UK’s general productiv...