Peel Ports Logistics has signed a deal to become renewable energy specialist Drax’s new shipping agency service provider for vessels arriving to Liverpool importing biomass.

The leading shipping and freight forwarder will support the arrival of all Drax’s ships from locations such as North America into the Port of Liverpool’s £100m biomass terminal. The renewable fuel is then transported onto Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, the UK’s single largest generator of renewable electricity.

Peel Ports Logistics recently welcomed the Aikaterini bulk carrier, the first of many vessels under their representation as vessel agent, to the port of Liverpool. As part of the deal, the company will welcome approximately 50 vessels per year into the port, each holding up to 50,000 tonnes of biomass.

The services provided to Drax will include supporting logistics around the arrival of the power specialist’s vessels and crew, as well as customs clearance.

Sebastian Gardiner, Managing Director at Peel Ports Logistics, said: “Everyone at Peel Ports Logistics is proud to have been chosen as Drax’s new shipping agency.

“The agreement is a testament to the knowledge and experience of our teams, and a real vote of confidence to start 2024.

“The wider Peel Ports Group already has a great working relationship with Drax, and we look forward to building on that partnership in the months ahead.”

Mark Gibbens, Head of Logistics at Drax, said: “Our new partnership with Peel Port Logistics strengthens Drax’s global supply chain, ensuring we help keep the lights on for millions of British households and businesses for many more years to come.

“The biomass brought ashore at ports such as Liverpool strengthens the UK’s national energy security and supports thousands of jobs right across the country.”

The biomass handling facility at the Port of Liverpool opened in 2016, with pellets safely stored at one of three purpose-built silos once they are unloaded from their vessels.

The port handles up to 3m tonnes of imported biomass a year from around the world, with the sustainable fuel then transported by train every day from Liverpool to power the plant in Selby.

#shipping - The collaboration between Maersk and MSC of the 2M shipping alliance, formed from the two biggest container lines in the world by market share, has committed to a permanent transatlantic shipping route connecting Liverpool, UK, with several US ports, according to a statement from Peel Ports.

The announcement reports Port Technology, follows the introduction of a temporary call in July 2018 by 2M after severe disruption at the Port of Felixstowe.

At present, the service is currently being used to export UK cargo, such as food produce and retail, but, according to Peel Ports, is attracting interest for trade in manufacturing and industrial goods.

The service will use a port rotation that takes in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Liverpool, Newark, Savannah, Port Everglades and North Charleston.

The commitment from 2M is the latest in a series of logistical and shipping milestones for the Port of Liverpool.

For further details of this new UK-USA lo-lo route service, click here.