Heysham Port is where the Peel Ports Group is investing £10m to further increase capacity and efficiencies at the port on the Irish Sea, which is a key trade link between the UK, the island of Ireland, and the Isle of Man.
The port in Lancashire is also where the UK’s second-largest port operator 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 freight 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.
Such an investment will benefit all ro-ro operators at Heysham Port, CLdN (see latest story), Stena Line (also freight-only), and the Isle of Man Steam Packet, which are 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 ro-ro ‘NewMax’ ferries at the port, which will boost freight capacity by 40% compared to previous vessels. As Afloat reported, the first of the twins is to enter the Heysham-Belfast route in the final quarter of this year.
Also, the works will lead to operational time savings for customers.
The introduction of a new gate operating system will lead to a better experience for haulers by improving reliability, reducing congestion, and creating additional space at the facility. In addition, a 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. The works are due to begin in the coming weeks.
Phil Hall, Mersey Port Director at Peel Ports Group, said, “This investment is hugely positive news for Heysham Port and the local community. We believe this work will future-proof our operations here for decades to come, as well as create growth opportunities for the facility in the process.
"We’ve already received great feedback from our customers about these plans, and it’s clear this infrastructure investment will really benefit our operations here in the years ahead.”
