Based at the Port of Liverpool in Seaforth, Liverpool2 is equipped to handle 95% of the world’s biggest cargo ships and became operational earlier this year. Tony McDonough reports
Peel Ports has unveiled the next phase of expansion of its £400m Liverpool2 deep water port facility planning the installation of another 13 cranes.
Based at the Port of Liverpool in Seaforth, Liverpool2 is equipped to handle 95% of the world’s biggest cargo ships and became operational earlier this year.
Extra cranes
This latest phase will include the installation of a further three ship to shore cranes (STS) and 10 cantilever rail mounted gantry cranes (CRMG).
These will add to the previous five STS cranes and 12 CRMG cranes installed as part of phase 1.
Liverpool2 will have the capacity to manage the unloading of two 380m vessels simultaneously.
There will also be additional reefer points installed to allow the terminal to handle even greater quantities of refrigerated containers at the port.
Market shift
Liverpool2 aims to revolutionise the UK’s logistics market which currently is concentrated on the Southern English ports with main distribution points in the Midlands.
The network was was created when the UK was a net exporter of goods and much of the manufacturing was concentrated in the Midlands.
However, the UK is now a net importer of goods and bringing in cargo destined for the North of England and Scotland via Southern ports no longer makes sense.
Liverpool2 offers importers a catchment area of more than 35m people – almost 58% of the UK’s population.
‘Important step’
Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports, said: “This is an important step in the development of Liverpool2 and reflects our confidence and our long term commitment to positioning the North of England as a competitive route to international markets and a major port for global trade.
“The development of the project programme is now well underway.
“We are currently preparing the outline designs and would look to be in a position to appoint construction partners in spring of next year, with a view to commencement of construction shortly after.
“We anticipate a completion date for phase 2 in 2019.”
Cargo200
Peel Ports announced earlier this year that it had secured over 200 signatories for its Cargo200 initiative – a campaign calling on importers and exporters whose goods are destined for the North of England to switch delivery of ocean-freight from South East ports to the Port of Liverpool.
The port operator evidenced that by making the change, UK plc will save around £400m a year as well as cut inland freight mileage by 200m miles by 2020.