Peel Ports Group has announced a £10m investment in Heysham Port to increase capacity and efficiency at the key gateway to Ireland and the Isle of Man.
The project will include reconfiguration of the trailer park, a multi lane smart gate operating system, and a new terminal operating system.
The extra space created by reconfiguring the site’s trailer park will accommodate future growth, including Stena Line’s deployment of two new-build state-of-the-art ‘NewMax’ ferries at the port, which will boost freight capacity by 40% compared to previous vessels. The works will also lead to operational time savings for customers.
new gate operating system will lead to a better experience for hauliers by improving reliability, reducing congestion, as well as creating additional space at the facility, it added while te new terminal operating system will make it easier for arriving hauliers to identify trailers at the site, improving safety at the port in the process.
The works are due to begin in the coming weeks.
Peel Ports’ Mersey port director, Phil Hall, said: “This investment is hugely positive news for Heysham Port and the local community. We believe this work will future-proof our operations here for decades to come, as well as create growth opportunities for the facility in the process. We’ve already received great feedback from our customers about these plans, and it’s clear this infrastructure investment will really benefit our operations here in the years ahead.”
Stena regional trade director, Paul Grant, added: “We welcome the investment from Peel Ports into the operations and additional space at Heysham Port. We have seen sustained growth in the unaccompanied freight market on this route, and we expect this trend to continue as we add further capacity.
“With the first of our new hybrid ships due to begin on the route later this year, the improved efficiency and extra space at the terminal will help facilitate the additional traffic and ensure a reliable service for our customers.”
