The Peel Ports Group, which operates the port of Heysham on the west coast of the UK, is investing £10 million (€11.7 million) in the expansion of the site.
The measures include the redesign of the trailer park, which will provide additional space for the deployment of two modern Stena Line ferries.
Furthermore, a multi-lane smart gate operating system will be installed in the port, as well as a new terminal system. Heysham is an important hub for trade between the UK mainland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. The investment is intended to enable “future-proof processes and greater resilience” and increase handling volumes at the port. All operators in Heysham will benefit from the improved efficiency, it is said. These include Isle of Man Steam Packet, CLDN and Stena Line.
In future, Stena Line will be able to deploy two modern “Nexmax” ferries in the port. These should increase freight capacity by 40% compared to their predecessors and promise significant time savings. The new gate operating system is intended to increase the reliability of forwarding operations, reduce congestion and create additional space at the terminal. The terminal operating system planned in parallel is intended to make trailers easier to find on site and increase security in the port. Work will begin in the coming weeks.
“Positive news for Heysham”
“This investment is extremely positive news for the Port of Heysham and the local community,” said Phil Hall, Mersey Port Director at Peel Ports Group. “We are confident that these measures will future-proof our operations here for decades to come, while creating growth opportunities for the facility. We have already received positive feedback from our customers on these plans and it is clear that this infrastructure investment will significantly enhance our operations here over the coming years.”
Stena Line has also responded positively to the new developments. “We are seeing continued growth in the unaccompanied freight market on this route and expect this trend to continue with the expansion of our capacity,” said Paul Grant, Regional Trade Director at the shipping company. “With the first of our new hybrid vessels being deployed on this route later this year, the improved efficiency and additional space at the terminal will help to handle the extra traffic and ensure a reliable service for our customers.”
