#Ports&Shipping - Giant ship to shore gantry cranes at the UK Port of Hull, which were installed earlier this year having originated in Ireland, formed part of the port's Open Day tour held a month ago, writes Jehan Ashmore.

This very rare opportunity for the public to enter through the gates of the north-east English port on the North Sea, provided a glimpse of behind the scenes that according to Associated British Port (ABP) Humber attracted around 300 people. Several tour groups spent a hour and half on 21 October, exploring the vast 3,000 acre port estate.

The invitation to the public was made available from (ABP) Port of Hull, which had invested £10.5m in the two Irish manufactured Ship-To-Shore (STS) cranes from Liebherr's plant based outside Killarney, Co. Kerry. The task of crane assembling took place at Rushbrooke, Cork Harbour, from where they were loaded onto a heavy-lift vessel and transported by sea.

Installation of the STS cranes in the Port of Hull has increased the total to four gantry cranes at the Hull Container Terminal. The increase in handling (Lo/Lo) capacity has led to new shipping businesess operating between the UK and mainland continental Europe.

At Port House, guests received a warm welcome by ABP's Port Manager for Hull and Goole, Chris Green who gave the tour group an informative talk about the background of the port and how it drives vital operations to keep the UK trading.

The Open Day also showcased the rest of the booming port operations including P&O Ferries terminal serving daily (Ro-Ro) links to Belgium and The Netherlands (noting they also operate on the Irish Sea). The Green Port Hull development, a Siemens wind turbine blade manufacturing, assembly and servicing facility were also available to view.

All Weather Terminal

In addition ABP tour guides showed the public to the All Weather Terminal, located in the King George V Dock, from where Afloat has previously reported from on board cruiseship, Marco Polo bound for Harwich. When the Cruise & Maritime Voyages classic veteran vessel (dating to 1965) began to depart, the All Weather Terminal became closer into view and was observed with much interest as to its purpose, as at first the structure appeared somewhat like a shipbuilding hall.

As the name of the terminal suggests, All Weather is the key to its operations, as the facility is in fact used by ships that can enter into a covered dock protected from the elements. The terminal is the UK's first fully-enclosed cargo-handling facility for the purpose of weather-sensitive cargoes such as steel (coils). The facility provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ for ship’s agency, cargo handling, storage and distribution. 

A small short-sea trader, Mirjam, albeit stern only, could be observed at the All Weather Terminal (see photo above). This scene as previously alluded was viewed from Marco Polo, having cast off mooring lines in King George V Dock, aided by SMS Towage's Yorkershireman (aft) and Irishman (bow). 

Returning to the port tour, members of the public were also treated to a sniffer dog display by the Border Force, a high-pressure water fountain spectacle also provided by SMS's fire tug Pullman. Also involved was the environmentally-friendly Envirocat boat, operated by Hughes Marine, which showcased it’s workings by gathering marine plastics throughout the port estate.

Hull also specialises in a range of bulk commodities and handling forest products, where Scotline (see photo caption) engaged with Irish operations too) while BP has a strong presence in the chemical market.

Earlier this month, ABP Port of Hull's Development plans for the Humber International Enterprise Park, located between Saltend Chemical Park and the village of Paull, have been redesigned. This was done as ABP took on-board feedback after recent public consultations.

#Ports&Shipping - Earlier this year, Afloat highlighted the arrival of Irish built ship-to-shore container cranes worth £10.5 million to the UK North Sea Port of Hull where further business has since taken root, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The growing trade of containers is thanks to the new infrastructure which will double the capacity of the Hull Container Terminal (HCT) to around 400,000 containers annually. The 10-acre facility located on the Humber Estuary, operated by Associated British Ports (ABP) is the third largest short-sea container port on the UK's east coast.

The addition of the new pair of 600 tonne cranes constructed by Liebherr outside Killarney, brings to four container cranes in total located at HCT. The Irish built cranes service ships of up to 500 standard containers, had arrived fully assembled to Hull in April having been transported as deck cargo on board heavy-lift ship HHL Lagos from Cork Dockyard in Rusbrooke.

Port of Hull now handles seven additional vessels per week to include the most recent new operator, I-Motion that began a trading link in the Port of Ghent, Belgium. This development marks the first ever container service linking the Ghent port area and the UK. Of the two ships serving the route, Marus, Afloat adds was the one-time Bell Atlas of the former Bell Lines, which had major operations based out of Waterford City followed downriver at Belview Container Terminal.

The Belgium based operator, I-Motion's arrival on the Humber follows as previously reported the debut in March of Samskip's operations between Hull and Amsterdam in neighbouring Netherlands.

The upgraded facility at HCT comes equipped with four ship-to shore-cranes that operate container handling operations alongside three berths capable of berthing vessels up to 199m in length.

As for the Irish built cranes they form part of a £15 million investment by ABP Port of Hull which also includes the purchase of terminal reach stackers and tug trailers.

In addition the port has created 9,000 square metres of new storage for customers.

#Ports&Shipping - UK ports operator, Associated British Ports (ABP) celebrated a milestone as the Port of Hull’s two £10.5 million cranes built in Ireland, served their first container shipment.

The fully assembled 600 tonne cranes arrived on the Humber estuary last month from Cork Dockyard in Rusbrooke. The cranes constructed by Liebherr had been loaded on board heavy lift vessel HHL Lagos.

First to use the new 50m high ship-to-shore gantry cranes in Hull was Thea II, Afloat adds the containership's coincidental connection with Cork, from where last year BG Freight Lines launched a new service linking Liverpool.

The cranes are equipped to handle ships with more than 500 standard containers. The 360 TEU capacity Thea II had arrived last Friday from Amsterdam, to discharge and load 180 containers.

The newly-expanded terminal that can now handle double the capacity - some 400,000 containers per year - is going from strength-to-strength as it has recently secured three new weekly sailings from Amsterdam to Hull with Samskip.

“After taking around a year to construct and even longer to plan, seeing these colossal cranes up and running ahead of schedule is a highly-anticipated moment,” said ABP Humber Director Simon Bird.

“These huge pieces of kit will be part of Hull’s skyline for at least 20 years serving around 10,000 vessels in their lifetime. We have driven in major investments such as new equipment, increasing the footprint of the terminal and employing more operational staff to prepare for our next wave of growth in the container business.”

The Humber container ports - Immingham and Hull - has seen 28% growth compared to last year. ABP state they are committed to investing £50 million in its container terminals on the Humber - located in Immingham and Hull - in response to continued growth in demand.