SOLID FIRST HALF OF 2006 FOR ABP’S NORTH-WEST PORTS

SOLID FIRST HALF OF 2006 FOR ABP’S NORTH-WEST PORTS
Associated British Ports’ (ABP) North-West Ports have experienced an encouraging first six months, with growth across a number of important trades and the development of new business opportunities. The Port of Garston has seen increased volumes of industrial bulks, building materials and fertilisers and continues to benefit significantly from recent investments in facilities for customers Hanson Aggregates and Maxit Building Products.

The Port of Fleetwood provides a vital ro-ro link between North-West England and Northern Ireland, and carryings on the route operated by Stena Line (Irish Sea) Ltd have continued to develop during the first half of the year.

In May, ABP secured an important contract with Aracruz for the handling of unitised woodpulp material destined for Kimberly-Clark’s Barrow Mill. Previously, the pulp was shipped through Kimberly-Clark’s Northfleet facility on the River Thames and transported by road to its final destination. The pulp is now shipped direct to ABP’s Port of Barrow for onward delivery to Kimberly-Clark’s nearby tissue-paper factory in Barrow. The new operation now spares Britain’s busy road networks of approximately 624,000 lorry miles per annum.

Nick Ridehalgh, ABP Port Manager, North-West Ports, said: “Earlier this summer, we were delighted to welcome these shipments of pulp for Kimberly-Clark. This marks an exciting commercial development for the Port of Barrow and demonstrates the port’s capability as a major short-sea hub for business in the North-West.”

In June, ABP Barrow welcomed the cruise ship Deutschland, which returned to the port after making its first visit in May 2005. Deutschland’s return shows Barrow’s growing reputation as the cruise gateway to the Lake District. ABP Barrow works in conjunction with partners including Barrow Borough Council, Lake District Tourism Peninsulas Partnership, Cumbria Tourist Board and West Lakes Renaissance to take advantage of the increasing popularity of cruising and to promote Barrow as a popular cruise stop-over.

The Port of Silloth has enjoyed a solid first-half of the year with growth across a number of niche sectors. In April, the port handled its largest-ever consignment of cargo when some 3,420 tonnes of agribulks were discharged from m.v. Antari for Carrs Fertilisers. The previous record was 3,311 tonnes, which passed through the port in February 2003. The port’s licensed stevedoring company, DA Harrison, discharged the cargo for Carrs in just under 16 hours with its high-capacity Sumito crawler crane that was installed in the port in 2005.

Commenting on the ports’ performance, Matt Jukes, ABP Port Director, Short-Sea Ports, said: “ABP’s North-West Ports are in a strong position for future growth, and the numbers for the first-half of 2006 are extremely encouraging – both for us and for the regional economy to which we contribute. Short-sea shipping – the transit of freight around the coast through ports like ours – is efficient, environmentally sound, and rapidly growing in popularity, as our developing business in the North-West clearly demonstrates.”

21st September 2006

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