Forth Ports, owner of Scotland’s Port of Grangemouth, is set to invest in the country’s largest container port to increase its capacity for storing containers.
The new investment will see surface upgrading works on an area of some 6,325m² and it is expected to increase the terminal’s total capacity to 12,000TEUs, a 50% increase from 2005.
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In addition, this new development will also provide operational efficiencies to its landside and shipside operations.
Forth Ports group chief executive Charles Hammond said: "We have analysed the shipping trends and identified the growing demand to accommodate larger vessels from around the world.
"Through this investment, we will ensure that the Port of Grangemouth remains front and centre for Scotland’s importers and exporters."
The new investment is part a five-year investment plan to improve the storage capabilities of the terminal.
Work under this programme will include the construction of a heavy-duty concrete pavement and other works for the construction of additional storage lanes for laden containers.
Scheduled to be completed in October this year, this upgrade is expected to increase the capacity by a further 10% over the next five years.
Meanwhile, the port has also commissioned a feasibility study to understand the viability and cost of deepening the shipping channel within the port in order to bring larger, heavier container ships and bulk vessels to the quayside.
The proposed deepening project is expected to increase the dock water depth to more than 10m from 7.5m. The project would take around three years to complete.
