Located on the banks of the Mersey in south Liverpool, the Port of Garston handles more than 500,000 tonnes of freight a year and owner APB has now invested £4m at the facility. Tony McDonough reports

Port operator ABP has invested £4m in an upgrade of the Port of Garston, on the River Mersey in south Liverpool.

ABP, which handled more than 500,000 tonnes of freight at the terminal every year, has upgraded its cargo handling equipment at the facility and has also created new jobs taking the number of permanent operational staff up to 16.

Originally built by the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway Company in 1853, the Port of Garston covers 65 acres and handles over 500,000 tonnes of freight each year. It has facilities for handling scrap metal, cement, steel, dry bulks and general cargo.

In 2016 and 2017 APB spent around £7m at Garston on new lock gates, sheds and buildings and a new crane.

This latest investment has seen the company acquire new equipment, and welfare facilities. It has also undertaken a significant dredge campaign to improve access for vessels on the river.  It follows the recent expansion project at the port, delivering additional covered and external storage.

It has hired four heads to bring the permanent operational staff up to 16, and has increased and upgraded its cargo handling equipment, including the purchase of more efficient and sustainable electrical forklifts. ABP is also committed to refurbishing all the recently acquired stores at Garston, which diminishes any risk for stored cargo.

ABP’s dredging operations, UKD, has just completed a large-scale dredge campaign and ABP has also tripled the number of weighbridges at its port, which helps to reduce the amount of time that hauliers need to spend at the port.

Brian McFarlane, port manager for ABP Garston said: “This significant new and ongoing investment in our Port of Garston enables ABP to ensure that its services remain competitive, resilient and of the highest standards for all our customers. 

“We’re extremely pleased to expand our team, upgrade our equipment and facilities to offer a more efficient service to new and existing trade.”