Shortsea transhipment exploits opportunity

Congestion in the major hubs could prove a bonanza for some of the UK’s less talked-about maritime gateways. John Fitzgerald, ABP port director for shortsea ports, says: “The development of shortsea transhipment services resulting from congestion at traditional deepsea gateways, compounded by UK road and rail infrastructure issues, is clearly an opportunity for those who can provide a network of regional ports.” ABP’s unit-loads services in the port of Ipswich already show evidence of this, and the group is working on similar initiatives elsewhere.

Ipswich reported increases in key trades in last year and has invested further in facilities. It opened its £6.1 m (US$11.15m) new ro-ro terminal in March, creating the port’s second ro-ro berth on the West Bank. ABP agreed with Ostend-based freight operator Ferryways to extend the port’s existing five-year agreement with the company by a further 20 years.

Timber also broke records in Ipswich, with more than 335,000cu metres passing across its quays last year - up almost 12% on the previous year. Ipswich has several facilities to support the trade including extensive hardstanding and warehousing and a timber-treatment centre, offering chromium-and arsenic-free preservative treatments.

Goole

ABP invested almost £300,000 ($448,500) in a new 2,400sq metre storage shed at Goole in April at its Boothferry Terminal. Operator RMS Europe handles vessels from Germany and Denmark for Seawheel’s container service to Rotterdam and Duisberg, which has returned to Goole after a two-year absence in Killingholme.The new business will boost Goole’s container throughput by about 50,000teu a year.

In March, ABP invested £900,000 ($1.65m) in extending storage at the South Dock Terminals, adding 5,100sq metres of warehousing for imported steel and bulk products and £647,000 ($l.18m) in new storage facilities for another major customer, Global Shipping Services, which currently handles timber and general cargo imports. ABP will develop a 5,000sq metre extension to Global’s facility, enabling the company to handle extra volumes of timber for Russian timber trader Tsar Timber from August.