ABP TEIGNMOUTH WELCOMES THE OPENING OF WESTERN QUAYS
Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Teignmouth took an important step forward today, 31 August, when a major new development – the Western Quays –was officially opened by Mrs Gunilla Lerenius, wife of Bo Lerenius, CBE, Group Chief Executive of ABP.
The Western Quays is the product of a £5 million investment by ABP and represents a huge enhancement of the port’s cargo-handling facilities. Following an extensive public inquiry, the Secretary of State for Transport gave the go-ahead to ABP’s application for the development in September 2004, with work being completed in July this year.
Engineering work for the Western Quays required the straightening of the quay wall, deepening of the berths, and the construction of a new 3,000 sq m transit shed for the import of agribulks. The work will allow room for more frequent arrivals of the larger ships that now use the port, and will also lead to faster turnaround times for vessels.
Backing the investment – and in addition to the port’s regular business with the company – a long-term agreement has been negotiated with Mole Valley Farmers, which imports fertiliser for use by local farmers through Teignmouth. In addition, new business for the port has been secured with a 15-year contract to import cement for Civil & Marine Slag Cement through the port. The Port of Teignmouth is one of 11 short-sea ports that are owned and operated by ABP, the UK’s largest and leading ports group. The port sustains the area’s agricultural and ball-clay industries and has seen impressive growth in trade over recent years.
Matt Jukes, ABP Port Director, Short-Sea Ports, explains: “Short-sea shipping – the transit of freight around the coast instead of via road or rail – requires medium-sized sea ports like Teignmouth to run smoothly and to be well equipped. As short-sea shipping takes lorries off the road, it is efficient, environmentally sound and rapidly growing in popularity. At this crucial time, the Western Quays development gives Teignmouth a substantial boost.”
Bo Lerenius added: “The development of the Western Quays has been a long time coming and has required a great deal of investment by ABP, but the effect it will have on the port and on local business is going to be very positive.”
He added: “£5 million is a great deal of money by anyone’s standards. However, as Teignmouth is one of our medium-sized ports, the scale of the development here is equivalent to the record-breaking investments we have made at our Humber facilities, such as at Humber International Terminal and DFDS Nordic Terminal Riverside at ABP’s Port of Immingham.”
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