Port of Tilbury WINS Rail Business Award for first time

Friday 22nd February 2019

Port of Tilbury, London’s major port, scooped the Rail Freight and Logistics Excellence industry accolade at this year’s Rail Business Awards at a ceremony on 21 February 2019 in central London. The Port was shortlisted for its “Reinvigorated rail freight” offering, alongside two other entries – Colas Rail & Tarmac and GB Railfreight – in the company’s inaugural entry.

Over the past two years, the Port has revived its rail freight offering by introducing regular intermodal services to The Midlands, North West and Scotland; creating a dedicated bulk rail terminal, which has subsequently been expanded to facilitate growing traffic; and establishing a rail connection to the recently consented 152-acre deep-water port terminal, known as Tilbury2.

With three rail terminals in the port and the Essex Thameside rail corridor already accounting for approximately 10% of the UK’s rail freight traffic, the Port is well positioned to provide sustainable and cost effective logistic solutions for customers.

“It’s great to receive this industry recognition acknowledging our success in reviving Tilbury’s rail offering”, Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury said.

He added: “Since setting our rail freight strategy two years ago and committing significant funds to support investment in new infrastructure and equipment to aid our overhaul, Tilbury has gone from strength-to-strength, securing new and growing intermodal and bulk traffic flows.

“We remain committed to providing sustainable, multi-modal and cost effective logistics solutions to support our customers’ growth and supply chain competitiveness. Our success is founded on the strong partnerships we have formed with URM, FM Conway, Tesco, Samskip, ECS, JF Hillebrand, Eddie Stobart Logistics, Victa Railfreight and DB Cargo UK. This award is testament to that continuing positive collaboration.”

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New London port, Tilbury2 gets go-ahead

Wednesday 20th February 2019

Forth Ports Group receives planning consent for new port on the River Thames

20 February 2019

The Port of Tilbury, the UK’s fastest growing port, has today (20 February 2019) received development consent from the Secretary of State for Transport to build Tilbury2 – a new multimillion pound port terminal adjacent to the current 930 acre site in Thurrock, on the outskirts of Greater London.

With construction scheduled to commence in a matter of weeks, the privately funded port, Tilbury2, will be built on a site covering in excess of 150 acres, which was part of the location of the former Tilbury Power Station. When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied ferry port and the country’s biggest construction processing hub, with AEO-trusted trader status.

Expansion is essential for the Port of Tilbury to cope with rising demand for construction materials and aggregates from Britain’s construction sector, imported and exported cars, as well as an increase in commercial ferry traffic, which carries consumer goods, perishables (food and drink) and steel between Europe and the UK.

Construction of the port, which will include a new rail and road connection, deep water jetty and pontoon, will bring the project cost to in excess of £200 million. The tender process for a contractor to complete this build has been completed and an announcement will be made shortly.

Tilbury2 will comprise:
• A roll on/roll off ferry terminal for importing and exporting containers and trailers to northern Europe, in partnership with P&O Ferries
• A facility for importing, processing, manufacturing and distributing construction materials
• A strategic rail terminal which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m
• Storage areas for a variety of goods, including exported and imported cars.

Tilbury2 is central to the Port of Tilbury’s £1billion investment programme during 2012-20. Tilbury has doubled the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume of cargo across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and increase direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

Charles Hammond, Chief Executive of Forth Ports Group (owner of the Port of Tilbury), said: “This is great news for the UK at a time when the country needs its ports more than ever before. Tilbury2 will deliver much needed port capacity to support businesses importing and exporting to and from Europe and the rest of the world. The terminal will be fit-for-purpose for the UK’s departure from the European Union, utilising the latest technology and streamlined border processes, in support of continued market demand created by business growth.

“By 2020, £1billion will have been invested in Tilbury’s expansion plans, including Tilbury2 and the 55-acre London Development Park, with the full backing of our shareholders.”

20 February 2019 – ends-

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John Lawrie Group to create Decom Base at The Port of Dundee

Monday 18th February 2019

Metal recycling, decommissioning and steel tubulars specialist, John Lawrie Group, is set to expand its operations in Scotland after agreeing a multi-million pound deal to develop a new site at the Port of Dundee.

The Aberdeen-headquartered company has reached an agreement with Forth Ports to establish a new metal recycling and decommissioning base at the Port. Both organisations will invest in the project, which will see an existing two-acre site at the city port redeveloped to create a new purpose-built concrete pad. The site will support the existing supply chain in Dundee in delivering oil and gas and decommissioning projects in the city.

A combined investment of around £5million is being made by both businesses in the development, which covers construction costs, the long-term lease of the site and the purchase of plant and equipment. John Lawrie Group will use the site to dismantle redundant offshore infrastructure brought ashore during oil and gas decommissioning projects and also for metal processing operations.

Scheduled to be up and running in early 2020, the facility will be operated by John Lawrie Group’s metals division. At launch, up to 10 new full-time jobs will be created, with the prospect of further posts being added as operations at the site develop.

John Lawrie Group is one of the country’s leading metal recycling companies, annually processing around 200,000 tonnes of metal. The firm is committed to maximising the reuse and recycling of redundant offshore materials and structures, and has been involved in the decommissioning sector for over 20 years. During that time it has handled piece small items from repair and modification projects, to piece large items brought ashore as part of entire platform or field decommissioning programmes.

John Lawrie Group, which operates metal recycling facilities in Aberdeen, Montrose, Evanton near Invergordon and Lerwick on Shetland, has previously carried out decommissioning work at the Port of Dundee. In 2015, it dismantled a 500-tonne offshore module at the port, with the materials then being transported to the firm’s Aberdeen metal recycling facility where the redundant North Sea structure was fully processed and recycled.

The firm achieves reuse and recycling rates of around 98 per cent on decommissioning projects. That commitment to reuse and recycling – which in turn promotes the circular economy – led to John Lawrie Group winning the circular economy award at the 2017 VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.

Dave Weston, John Lawrie Metals managing director, said: “This is a significant investment for John Lawrie Group and comes 12 months after we acquired a metal recycling facility on Shetland. It underlines our commitment to support the oil and gas decommissioning sector and forms part of our long-term strategy to develop John Lawrie Group’s operations across the country. Operating facilities in close proximity to Scotland’s major ports also acknowledges the strategic importance we see them continuing to play as part of the country’s infrastructure.

“Over the coming 12 months we will be working closely with all of the relevant authorities and licensing bodies as we finalise plans for this development in Dundee. Our aim is to maximise the amount of materials that are reused and recycled, in order to minimise the volume of waste sent to landfill, helping to create a greener and more sustainable economy.”

Led by Forth Ports and public-private partnership, Dundeecom, work is underway to position Dundee as an integrated hub for North Sea oil and gas decommissioning work. Boasting deep-water berths and a strategic east coast location, it is hoped Dundee will secure a sizeable portion of the £15.3billion that is forecast to be spent on decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure from the UK Continental Shelf over the next decade.

Commenting on the Dundee development, David Webster, Forth Ports’ Senior Port Manager for Dundee and Leith, said: “This is a major milestone in Forth Ports’ strategy to develop a full service oil and gas decommissioning hub here at the Port of Dundee.

“We are excited to be working with John Lawrie Group to develop this new decommissioning facility. We have worked closely together on a number of projects and the company’s commitment to reuse and recycling and its strong track record is evident. The opening of the facility in early 2020 will be a very visible sign of the Port of Dundee’s ambition to support the North Sea oil and gas decommissioning sector.”

Callum Falconer, CEO of Dundeecom, added: “John Lawrie Group is a long-established and highly regarded company that has an extensive track record of innovative thinking in oil and gas decommissioning. It is great to welcome the company to Dundee on a permanent basis, where it will complement the existing supply chain. John Lawrie Group’s decision to locate here is a real vote of confidence for the city as it seeks to continue to diversify its economy and establish itself as an important decom hub.”

Established in Aberdeen as a metal merchant, John Lawrie Group now offers a diverse range of industrial services across its metals, tubulars and decom divisions. The firm specialises in metal recycling and reprocessing, the supply of new and used steel tubulars, and the provision of industrial and oilfield decommissioning services. John Lawrie Group employs an 80-strong workforce across operations in the UK, America and Europe. In 2017, John Lawrie Group was acquired by its management in partnership with Rubicon Partners, a leading industrial investor, and principal investment firm Grovepoint.

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New website for Forth Ports showcases Group’s world class services

Monday 11th February 2019

PRESS RELEASE
11 February 2019
NEW WEBSITE FOR FORTH PORTS SHOWCASES GROUP’S WORLD CLASS SERVICES

Forth Ports Limited, one of the UK’s largest port groups, has today launched an exciting new online presence and invites people to view their ‘digital’ port at forthports.co.uk.

The website has been developed with the key focus of enhancing the customer experience through easy and intuitive navigation throughout the site. The design is highly visual and uses infographic icons to ensure that people can find the service or port they require. For the first time, the site has a wide range of visuals and detailed information from across the business as well as photos of the customer facing teams around the UK.

Forth Ports is a major business in the UK handling over 41million tonnes of cargo each year across its eight ports in Scotland and Tilbury on The River Thames, London’s fastest growing port. The group is investing over £1billion in its facilities including infrastructure developments and equipment as well as a proposal to build a major new port terminal for London, Tilbury 2.

Commenting on the new website, Charles Hammond, Group Chief Executive said: “Our new website comes at an exciting time for Forth Ports as we continue to deliver our ambitious expansion and investment programme around the UK. We have a strong purpose and our strategy is to invest in supply chain solutions for our customers. We invest continuously in our people through the development of their skills and performance at our award winning in-port training academies. We invest in infrastructure and technology to deliver an excellent offering for customers.

The new website will become the cornerstone of our marketing strategy and we hope that our current and future customers enjoy using the site. My thanks to Denvir who worked with us on this project.”

11 February 2019
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Port of Rosyth welcomes new Liebherr Harbour Mobile Crane

Monday 14th January 2019

PRESS RELEASE
14 January 2019
PORT OF ROSYTH WELCOMES NEW LIEBHERR HARBOUR MOBILE CRANE

The Port of Rosyth, Scotland’s best connected port, has welcomed their new Liebherr multimillion pound mobile harbour crane (model LHM 550) as part of a major investment programme at the port for bulk handling primarily for Cefetra.

Liebherr is one of the world’s leading port crane manufacturers and this new crane is a state of the art mobile harbour crane with a powerful transmission and advanced electronics for bulk handing.

The 439 tonne crane arrived on board the MV Meri over the festive period and was rolled off the specialist vessel directly onto the quayside during slack tide [NB: see images and timelapse video with this release]. The crane operators at the port have been fully trained and the crane is now in operation.

Derek Knox, Senior Port Manager, Rosyth, said: “This is a great start to the new year for the Port of Rosyth. The new Liebherr crane is supporting our growth plans for the port and will be used primarily for bulk handling for Cefetra who have chosen Rosyth as their Scottish argi-hub. We have many Liebherr machines across the business due to their excellent reputation in crane technology and proven track record of providing reliable equipment to meet the demands of our cargo operations.”

Link to timelapse video of crane being installed: https://vimeo.com/310590943/ce17a88602

Link to animation of the Cefetra animal feed facility being built: https://vimeo.com/303731072/8d2703330d

14 January 2019
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New crane swings into action at Port of Grangemouth

Thursday 22nd November 2018

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 22 November 2018
PORT OF GRANGEMOUTH DELIVERS FASTER SERVICE AS NEW CRANE GETS TO WORK

The Port of Grangemouth’s new multimillion pound crane gets to work this month at Scotland’s largest container terminal. At 45metres high, the new crane has changed the skyline at the port as it joins two other ship-to-shore container cranes (images and drone video clip attached with this release).

For the first time, a trio of Liebherr cranes, were able to work on the Andromeda J to unload and reload its container cargo before it sailed to Rotterdam.

This third container crane to join the Forth Ports’ fleet is part of a £10million investment programme at the port to increase handling capacity and service for customers by ensuring a faster turnaround time for cargo. More than £6 billion worth of goods passes through Grangemouth each year including food and drink, chemicals, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry.

As the busy pre-Christmas export season gets underway for food and drink, Grangemouth can service the current and future container volume growth for export and import cargoes both in European and International markets.

Derek Knox, Grangemouth’s Port Manager, said: “We are Scotland’s largest container port and we handle some of the country’s most valuable exports including food and drink. It is vital that we deliver fast turnaround times for our export and import customers and with this new crane, we can now unload and load a ship with a trio of cranes.

This is a huge benefit for our customers who need a reliable and efficient service at ports and the addition of the new crane increases our capability and flexibility to adapt to changing shipping demands. The new crane is also future proofed to enable taller straddle carriers to work underneath the crane legs, allowing the port to further increase its overall container storage capability in the future.”

The 45 metre high crane, which weighs 524 tonnes, arrived in large sections on board a heavy load carrier vessel in the summer after sailing from Liebherr’s state of the art facility in Killarney, South West Ireland, where the crane was designed and built. The crane was unloaded onto the quayside and constructed by the expert build team from Liebherr on site at the port.

As part of an ongoing major investment programme at Grangemouth, the port introduced three new ESC340 straddle carriers in 2017, increasing the fleet at the container terminal to 16. The port also added a new Hyster empty container handler to the fleet. The new straddles, empty container handler and the new Liebherr crane will increase the handling capacity for both conventional containers and reefers (refrigerated containers). A new terminal operating system and additional storage capacity have also been introduced in 2018.

Link to the time-lapse footage of the crane construction: https://vimeo.com/302069107

Link to the drone video of the crane in operation: https://vimeo.com/302065862

22 November
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Port of Tilbury reaches final of Rail Business Awards

Wednesday 21st November 2018

PRESS RELEASE

21 November 2018

PORT OF TILBURY REACHES FINAL OF RAIL BUSINESS AWARDS

Port of Tilbury, London’s major port, has for the first time reached the final of the Rail Business Awards which is entering its 21st year. The port has been shortlisted in the Rail Freight & Logistics Excellence category along with two other companies. The award winner will be announced at a banquet dinner on 21 February 2019 in London.

Over the past two years, the port has reinvigorated its rail freight offering to introduce regular intermodal services to the Midlands and Scotland; create a dedicated bulk rail terminal, and is looking to establish a rail connection within their proposed new 152-acre deep-water port terminal, known as Tilbury2. With three rail terminals in the port and the Essex Thameside rail corridor already accounting for approximately 10% of the UK’s rail freight traffic, the port is well positioned to provide sustainable and cost effective logistic solutions for customers.

Commenting on reaching the final, Peter Ward, Commercial Director (Port of Tilbury) said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the Rail Business Awards. Through rail services, goods can quickly and efficiently be transported from the port around the country. At Tilbury we have focused on our rail freight offering over the past few years with the investment in our new bulk terminal and securing new rail services to the north including the recently announced Eddie Stobart service with London Container Terminal and a new two-year agreement with FM Conway to move volume through the bulk railhead. We also have a long term agreement with URM, the UK’s leading glass recyclers to move glass cullet processed from their new recycling facility at the port by rail.

We are committed to providing sustainable and cost effective logistics solutions for our customers, aiding growth and competitiveness in the supply chain. We look forward to the award ceremony in February next year and wish everyone nominated good luck on the night.”

Link to Rail awards website: www.railbusinessawards.com/railbusinessawards2019/en/page/home

November 2018
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Forth Ports teams up with CalMac to deliver Modern Apprentice training

Thursday 8th November 2018

First Port Assistants embark on MA voyage

The first intake of ferry operator CalMac’s new Port Operations Modern Apprenticeship has cast off on their training voyage.

The company has joined forces with Forth Ports Limited to deliver the Modern Apprenticeship to a group of five trainee Port and Harbour Assistants, the first of its kind in the country.

CalMac manages 27 harbours and slipways across the West Coast, and apprentices will learn all aspects loading, unloading and securing cargo, mooring, passenger operations and workplace transport operations.

‘Providing training opportunities for young people in the communities we support is a key commitment within our operating plan, and I’m delighted to welcome these five new trainees to the company, Expanding our existing MA programme into port operations will ensure we have the right people in place for the future in what is a vital area of service delivery,’ said CalMac’s Managing Director, Robbie Drummond.

‘This new MA is the solid foundation for building a long term career in harbour management.’

Over the 15-month programme of on-the-job and classroom training MAs will qualify to SVQ level 2 in Port Operations along with an additional industry qualification in Plant and Health & Safety.

Training will be carried out at ports across the CalMac network and at Forth Ports’ new Skills and Business Centre in Grangemouth.

Jackie Anderson, Group HR Director for Forth Ports said: “It’s great to be working with CalMac to deliver the new MA course for their next generation of port workers. The trainees receive first class training and mentoring whilst gaining a professional qualification through tailored learning and development. Our new state of the art Skills and Business Centre in Grangemouth opens this month and we are looking forward to welcoming trainees as they undertake their MA with us.”

CalMac is the UK’s largest ferry company and last year transported more than 5.3 million passengers and 1.4 million vehicles across 27 island and remote mainland locations.

This year CalMac has recruited a total of 25 MAs: six Deck Ratings, four Engine Ratings, 10 Retail Ratings and five Port Assistants.

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Picture shows: (LtoR) Apprentices Calum Robertson (Armadale), Daniel Smith (Port Ellen), Adam Smith (Wemyss Bay/Largs) Ryan Bell (Brodick) and Duncan Turner (Oban) join Robbie Drummond Managing Director, CalMac Ferries (third from left) and Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer, Forth Ports at the launch of the new MA.

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Tilbury to capitalise on opportunities to boost trade

Monday 22nd October 2018

PRESS RELEASE
Tilbury Port to capitalise on opportunities to boost trade

Tilbury Port and the people that work there will play a major role in helping the UK to increase international trade after we leave the European Union.

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox visited Tilbury Port today (Thursday 18 October) to meet with port workers and management, as well as members of the Tilbury on the Thames Trust.

Tilbury is the fastest growing port in the UK and a £1 billion investment programme will see the port employing 9,000 people by 2020, three times more than it did in 2012. One in five of the employed people in the local area of Thurrock will work at the port.

This investment will see the amount of trade passing through the port reach 32 million tonnes each year, equivalent to more than one tonne every second.

Dr Fox praised Tilbury for leading the way in delivering year-on-year growth that creates jobs in the local area and helps to deliver prosperity across the UK.

He met with staff to hear about plans to capitalise on opportunities to increase international trade with the rest of the world, which could help to create even more jobs at Tilbury.

International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox said

“Tilbury Port has a strategic position on the Thames estuary, a skilled maritime workforce and a long history of international trade. Together with the developments at Thamesport, we are seeing great improvements in the capacity of the Thames as a gateway for international trade for the future.

“We are now forging our own independent trade policy for the first time in more than 40 years and Tilbury and other ports will play a major role in helping the whole of the UK to capitalise on the opportunities to increase our trade with the rest of the world.

“I applaud and respect the hard work of the port’s workers who are helping to ensure that Britain remains a great exporting, maritime nation.”

Robin Mortimer, PLA chief executive said:

“The substantially increased freight on the river in 2017 is tangible evidence of the success of the Thames in attracting investment and, through it, new trades. It’s work that is underpinned by our Investment Strategy to enhance commercial infrastructure up and down the river.”

Charles Hammond, Chief Executive of Forth Ports who own the Port of Tilbury said:

“It was great to welcome the Secretary of State to the port today. In the years ahead, Tilbury’s market position will be further strengthened by our proposed new port, Tilbury2.

“As we invest in our facilities to support global trade, we continue to press for road investment to keep pace through an enhanced motorway network connection. A direct link from the UK’s fastest growing port onto the country’s largest road scheme, the Lower Thames Crossing, is vital.”

Dr Fox saw Jaguars and Land Rovers ready to be shipped to West Africa and South America, as well as paper imported from Finland and Sweden, and grain that is traded with North America and Europe.

Our ports are fundamental to our global trading success as an island nation. They have a vital economic role in handling 95% of our imports and exports and they support 100,000 people around the country.

Ports directly generate £1.7 billion of trade every year, however their true value to the UK economy is worth more than three times that figure (£5.4 billion) when you include indirect impacts such as the port industry’s spending on vehicles, construction and business services.

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Innovative training suite opened for veterans at The Port of Tilbury

Friday 12th October 2018

NEWS RELEASE

12 October 2018

Innovative training suite opened for veterans at The Port of Tilbury

A state of the art technology suite was opened today by Jackie Doyle Price MP (12 October) at the Port of Tilbury. Located within the old railway station of the London Cruise Terminal, the Training and Technology Suite includes two training simulators as part of the facilities designed to support the veteran community with training in the logistics sector.

The suite’s two simulators – from CM labs and Tenstar – provide full simulation, including a 360 degree experience, of all the major crane and straddle operational equipment such as motion, cable and lifting systems, and lift apparatus providing operators with an enhanced learning environment featuring industrial controls and realistic working terminal scenarios.

The training suite is located within the Railway Station building at the London International Cruise Terminal, with the new training suite being a cornerstone of the planned renovation program that the Tilbury of the Thames trust are aiming to undertake to the building in conjunction with the Port of Tilbury; allowing much greater use of the building by the local community. The simulators were a hit at the recent Opportunity Thurrock event where over 2000 young people from the area came along to the London Cruise Terminal to investigate future career opportunities for them

The Port of Tilbury already has an established award winning Logistics Training Academy located within the port estate that offers training and support to the veteran community through the ‘Attention to Logistics’ training programme and bursary scheme which was launched last year. The programme has been created to specifically focus on the veteran community, helping ex-service men and women and their families back into work through the logistics sector. The programme is delivered by Tilbury on the Thames Trust in association with the Port of Tilbury Logistics Academy.

Liam Cordiner who took part in the course said: “What they have been running in Tilbury is exceptional. It is a stress free, relaxed and in a demilitarised environment. It is definitely something I would recommend attending if people are struggling with their career path after leaving the armed forces.”

Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer of Forth Ports and Chair of Tilbury on the Thames Trust said: “This is an exciting day for the Tilbury on the Thames Trust, for the Port of Tilbury and for the area as a whole. The opening of this training suite will ensure that veterans have the skills to create real opportunities in the logistics sector. Our experience shows that military service makes people well suited for careers in Logistics. With all the development planned for the port and the Thames Gateway there will be a job opportunity increase in the area.”

Jackie Doyle-Price MP, said: “I am delighted to open the Training and Technology suite today at the Port of Tilbury. This is a great opportunity to deliver training and sustainable employment for veterans and their families as well as providing good, skilled staff to support the logistics industries locally. I am very proud to have played my part in making this happen. I am very grateful to the Port of Tilbury to both this training programme and to bringing the railway station into community use. We are lucky to have a major employer that makes such a strong contribution to the local community.”

12 October 2018
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For more information and contact details please go to: http://tott.org.uk/attention-to-logistics/

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