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Scotland's Grangemouth starts terminal resurfacing to up capacity

SCOTLAND's biggest container facility, the Port of Grangemouth, is undergoing a GBP1 million (US$1.32 million) resurfacing project that will upgrade the container terminal's surfacing to increase the capacity and the speed of servicing vessels.

The work is due to be completed in October in time for the peak volume period. The new resurfaced area is expected to add 1,000 TEU of additional annual container handling capacity.

Grangemouth port has an overall capacity of 220,000 containers per annum. Some GBP6 billion worth of goods pass through the port each year including steel plate, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry, reported London's Loadstar.

The port has also placed an order with Liebherr for a new multimillion pound ship to shore container crane and is developing a new IT terminal operating system both of which are due to begin service in 2018. The resurfacing work will ensure that the landside operation supports the investment in the crane and terminal operating system, which will deliver faster terminal performance.

"Our investment keeps us ahead of the market in Scotland. It is important that we deliver fast turnarounds and ensure reliability in servicing the Scottish export market," said Grangemouth port manager Derek Knox, was quoted as saying.

"The investment in surfacing, crane and terminal operating system to increase terminal capacity and efficiency continues to ensure the port is well equipped to meet the future demands of our customers," he said.

As part of the ongoing investment programme at Grangemouth, the port took deliver of three new ESC340 straddle carriers earlier this year, raising the fleet at the container terminal to 16. The port also added a new Hyster empty container handler to the fleet this year.

The new straddles, empty container handler and the new Liebherr crane will increase the handling capacity for both conventional containers and refrigerated containers.