#Ports - Peel Ports Group, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest port groups, expressed its support for a growing Irish export market by becoming a member of the Irish Exporters Association (IEA), a group widely regarded as the voice of Ireland’s export industry.
Peel Ports currently operates at Belfast (Victoria Terminal) and Dublin (Marine Terminals Limited) handling 30% of all containers entering the island of Ireland. Between them the terminals handle around 300,000 units of TEU every year.
Membership to the IEA will not only open up access to a wide community of exporters and service providers in the Irish market, but will also allow Peel Ports to further develop its comprehensive range of transport connections across its Irish Sea network.
In addition it will allow Peel Ports' customers to grow global trade and increase exports from Ireland by providing access to a vital part of the supply chain infrastructure and bring added value to supply chains in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness.
With strategic port locations in Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow, Peel Ports provides what it describes as a 'unique Irish Sea Hub', further supported by its shipping line BG Freight Line.
Furthermore, it says, the hub allows shipping lines to reduce the cost of repositioning empty containers by rebalancing equipment across the network.
Some 82.5% of laden containers which arrive into the Irish Sea Hub also leave as laden containers, which are higher than the UK average of 54% - making transportation in and out of Ireland cheaper, according to Peel Ports.
Through a joined-up approach the Irish Sea Hub offers 'a one-stop solution' for container customers, allowing multiple port calls across the Irish Sea, reducing transportation costs to Ireland.
Peel Ports’ global connectivity will be further enhanced when its new £300 million Liverpool2 development opens for business at the Port of Liverpool in 2015.
Liverpool2 will be the UK’s most centrally located deep water container terminal, enabling direct services from around the world to call at Liverpool, making it a more efficient feeder hub for the Irish market.
Gerard Gaffney, head of container operations at Dublin and Belfast for Peel Ports Group, said: “We are an agile and progressive business and take a collaborative approach to working with our customers.
"We have tailored the services we offer across the Irish Sea hub to suit the market demand and are dedicated to service, consistency and growth.
“We look forward to working with the IEW in its worthwhile endeavours to support Irish exports in an improving economic climate, recognising the obvious benefits it will bring to Peel Ports Group and our customers.”
Meanwhile, IEA chief executive Simon McKeever said: “We are delighted to support Peel Ports Group and look forward to working with them as they continue to develop their activities across the Irish Sea.”
