Plans announced by Belfast Harbour is to see a full refurbishment of the Victoria Terminal 1 Roll-on Roll-off ferry berth this summer.
The terminal is from where Stena Line operate their Belfast-Heysham freight service.
The programme of work, which represents a £2.5m investment by Belfast Harbour, will effectively renew and modernize the terminal infrastructure, extending its life span for a further 25 years. Work will include refurbishment of the berth ramp, the access walkways and the fenders.
Local contractors McLaughlin & Harvey has been engaged to deliver the project which is due to commence in early summer.
To facilitate these works the Belfast-Heysham service will operate from the Ballast Quay Terminal during the summer period.
Belfast Harbour has continued its long-term investment programme in port infrastructure in recent years, including the £40m redevelopment of Victoria Terminal 3 container terminal, with more than £20m invested in new cranes. In addition the installation of a new £15m two tier linkspan ramp at Victoria Terminal 2 ferry terminal to accommodate Stena’s new Embla and Edda vessels on the Belfast-Liverpool route.
Michael Robinson, Port Director, Belfast Harbour said: “We are continuing to invest in our port infrastructure and equipment that will help us achieve our goal of becoming the best regional port in the world.
“Roll-On-Roll-Off freight, including on the Belfast to Heysham route, performed strongly last year, reflecting the importance of our freight traffic routes to Scotland and England and the essential supply chains we serve to the Northern Ireland economy. We want our facilities to be best in class and having undertaken a full structural assessment of the VT1 facilities we believe that making this £2.5m investment now will provide both this standard and a long-term life extension for the terminal.”
John Mariner, McLaughlin & Harvey Contracts Director, said: “We are delighted to deliver another project for Belfast Harbour; building on our successful long-term relationship which includes Victoria Terminals 3 and 4".
He added "This project will be delivered using a local supply chain, and will utilise our extensive marine civil engineering expertise to support the harbour in its programme of continual investment to improve facilities in the port.”
