Peel Ports Group has decided to invest GB£10 million (US$13.4 million) in Heysham Port to increase capacity and efficiencies at the site, which is an important trade link between the UK mainland, the Island of Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Peel Ports will make the substantial investment to future-proof operations and resilience, as well as support customers in increasing volumes they can pass through the port.
The project will include the port’s trailer park being reconfigured, as well as a new multi-lane smart gate operating system, and a new state-of-the-art terminal operating system for the facility.
The investment will benefit all operators at Heysham Port, with Isle of Man Steam Packet, CLDN and Stena Line all set to gain from improved efficiency, increased capacity and enhanced terminal operations.
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, and the works will also lead to operational time savings for customers.
The introduction of a new gate operating system is expected to boost the experience for hauliers by improving reliability, reducing congestion, as well as creating additional space at the facility.
The 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, while the works are due to begin in the coming weeks, according to Peel Ports Group’s statement.
