Owner of the Port of Liverpool, Peel Ports, is investing £140m in 22 new cranes for its Liverpool2 deep water container terminal and five have arrived this week. Tony McDonough reports

Five new cantilever rail-mounted gantry (CRMG) cranes have arrived at the Port of Liverpool from China in the next stage of a £140 expansion of the Liverpool2 facility.

Produced by leading Chinese manufacturer, Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co (ZPMC), the five new cranes are the second of two deliveries in 2021, which will complete the set of 22 CRMG cranes being installed at the £400m deep water terminal.

Their arrival coincides with the Liverpool city region’s successful application for Freeport status, which will create a further opportunity to position the area at the forefront of the UK’s future global trading relationships. 

Announced by the Government yesterday, it is estimated a free trade zone for the Liverpool city region will contribute around £850m GVA and create 14,000 jobs, as well as contributing to the local net zero Carbon targets for 2040.

David Huck, managing director of Peel Ports, said: “While we are only one of the partners in this public and private sector joint initiative, the Port of Liverpool is clearly the largest global gateway to the new regional freeport. How we see our role is helping with wider city region to achieve the greatest possible benefit from its freeport status. 

“The £400m investment we have made on the Liverpool2 container terminal is a huge enabler. It’s the combination of the outstanding facilities here and the freeport status for the region that will really make the difference.

“The arrival of the last batch of CRMG cranes at the Port of Liverpool this week, marks a significant milestone in the next phase of growth at Liverpool2 and reflects the dynamism and strength of our business and skilled workforce”

Peel Ports Group, with its partner global terminal business, Terminal Investment Limited Sarl, is continuing to develop the Liverpool2 terminal to further increase capabilities and support increased demand. 

Once completed, Liverpool2 will be capable of handling the largest container ships in the world, whilst supporting the UK haulage sector via the very latest landside automated gates and vehicle booking systems. 

Work on this second phase of the landside project is expected to be fully completed in the summer 2021 and will be supported by the creation of more than 150 new skilled jobs in Merseyside this year.