Port of Tilbury, London’s major port, this month marks the 50^th anniversary of its grain terminal, the UK’s largest terminal for the import and export of grain.

Built at a cost of £53.5 million in today’s money, the grain terminal has processed over 35 million tonnes of product since opening in 1969. It currently handles two million tonnes of grain, wheat, barley and beans every year to help meet the UK’s import and export requirements.

A vital supplier to major global brands, grain is handled at the terminal daily through its import and export capability and is a key supporter of the agriculture industry in the south east of England as well as the flour milling and bakery industries. The terminal regularly handles cargoes from in and out of the UK and to countries across the world from the USA and Canada to France, Thailand and Australia.

With two grain towers on site, the terminal can discharge and load vessels simultaneously and with a five-star food hygiene rating the facility has the trust of major companies. The grain terminal is fully automated and linked to the two associated flour mills located within the port.

Grain brought into the terminal can be made into flour to be used for every day goods stocked in supermarkets including pasta, baked goods and malt – used to make beer and the soya found in baby food.

Since Thames Grain was added to the terminal in 1983 it has allowed UK grown grain to be sampled, tested and tipped prior to export. This process is used to support the grain terminal’s major export of UK wheat, barley and human consumption beans to destinations across the world.

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at The Port of Tilbury said: “This year marks a special anniversary for Port of Tilbury’s grain terminal which plays a huge role in supplying businesses from around the world with the grain needed to support their brands.

“In half a century the grain terminal has processed over 35 million tonnes of grain, wheat, barley and beans while also assisting in the production of flour in its two associated mills to provide supermarkets with some of their most popular products.

“Port of Tilbury continues to invest in this vital asset to ensure it continues as the largest terminal for the import and export of grain in the country for the next 50 years.”

The Tilbury Grain terminal is the key strategic facility in the South East of the UK for the grain import and export markets handling grain from around the world. The grain terminal has over 200 silo’s ranging in size from 60mt to over 2000mt, supporting the flour and ingredient market for the southeast, London and up to the Midlands. Its berths have space to host post-panamax vessels – greater than 40,000 tonnes – but can also handle a range of coaster vessels on its inner, outer and coaster berths. The terminal also operates a monthly coastal shipping service from Tilbury to its sister port in Kirkcaldy, Scotland for Carr’s Milling.

Earlier this year, Port of Tilbury completed a major storage expansion at the grain terminal as part of its growth strategy. The new flat store increases the capacity by an additional 16,000 tonnes of both import and export wheat.

Ends                                                                                                   6 September 2019

Forth Ports Limited has launched a new online, real-time, container tracking system for customers using the busy ports of London Container Terminal (Port of Tilbury) and Grangemouth in Scotland.

The bespoke container tracking system is available via the Forth Ports website – https://groupcont.forthports.co.uk/containerEnquiry/ – and gives customers the ability to enquire in real-time about the status of their container within the ports of Tilbury and Grangemouth. The simple to use system has been successfully delivered by the company’s in-house IT team in conjunction with their long-term port system supplier TCS and has been designed to be accessible without the need for a login or password.

By simply using a container number or booking reference, customers can locate up to 50 containers with status options ranging from exit by vessel; exit by truck; in yard; and exit by rail. These real-time, 24-7, accurate updates are aimed at supporting and streamlining customer’s supply chain processes by reducing the need to contact the port to get the same information.

Commenting on the new system, Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports said: “Our business is continually working hard to ensure that our customers receive an efficient service across our ports. Streamlining of logistics processes and improved access to information are important aspects for customers importing, exporting or distributing their goods and we have invested in this new container tracking system to support this.

For our container customers in London and Grangemouth this new system will further assist businesses by providing self –service access to key information, assist in reducing time within their supply chain and manage just-in-time logistics by providing accurate, real-time status information about containers within our two ports. It is now very easy to find the answer to the question ‘what is the status of my box?”

The new container search system has been introduced as part of an overall business strategy for a more unified and consistent service across the Group. As part of their complementary IT strategy, Forth Ports have also recently transitioned their two container businesses onto a common and fully integrated Terminal Operating System in association with their long-term software vendor TCS.

Forth Ports have also created a new website with a comprehensive new solution providing a much clearer and more unified perspective on Forth Ports as a group, facilitating structured and easy access to specifics on their various Ports and associated services: forthports.co.uk

4 September 2019                             – ends –

A new name will take to the waters of the Forth and Tay estuaries this week with the official naming of Forth Ports’ brand-new survey vessel – the Forth King.

The nine-metre long vessel will complement Forth Ports’ existing survey vessel, the Calatria and will be used to survey water depths within and on the approaches to the company’s five ports in the River Forth and at the Port of Dundee on the River Tay. She will also monitor the depth of the shipping channels within both estuaries.

The name Forth King was chosen in commemoration of the Calatria’s coxswain, Dave King, who passed away in 2018. Her naming ceremony was carried out by Dave’s widow, Liz King (pictured), following the blessing of the vessel, which was carried out by the Port of Grangemouth’s chaplain, the Rev. Joe O’Donnell.

The Forth King has been fitted with the latest multibeam sonar equipment, which carries out bathymetric surveys which produce a 3D image of the riverbed, and with a Lidar (radar using laser beams) which can very accurately measure features such as quaysides above the water line. The new vessel is quieter, cheaper to operate and more environmentally friendly than preview survey vessels.

She will be based in the Port of Grangemouth but will be used throughout the River Forth and the River Tay and will also be made available to the operators of other waterways, canals and rivers elsewhere in Scotland.

Master of ceremonies at the naming event, which was attended by staff from Forth and Tay Navigation Service and from the Port of Grangemouth, was Chief Harbourmaster, Alan McPherson, who said: “It is fitting that the Forth King carries Dave’s name. He was a great loss to everyone who knew him and his love of the river lives on in our new survey vessel. The Forth King will expand our surveying capabilities, not just in terms of the locations it can go to but in the range of services it can provide.”

3 September 2019                  – ends –

The Port of Tilbury hosted the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP, and the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Priti Patel MP, today for an overview of its expanding operations – including a new port terminal, Tilbury2 – and its contingency planning for the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Construction at Tilbury2 by Graham Construction is underway on a site which was part of the former Tilbury Power Station. Once operational, in spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be home to the UK’s largest unaccompanied ferry port, operated by P&O Ferries, and the country’s biggest construction processing hub, with “Authorised Economic Operator” trusted trader status.

Tilbury has doubled the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and triple the direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

This growth is underpinned by the Port of Tilbury’s £1 billion investment programme, 2012-20, of which Tilbury2 is a central part. Tilbury2 will include a new rail and road connection, deep water jetty and pontoon, at a projected cost in excess of £200 million.

Expansion is needed to cope with rising demand for construction materials and aggregates from the UK’s building sector, imported and exported cars, as well as an increase in ferry traffic, which carries food, drink, finished products and other goods between Europe and the UK.

Sajid Javid MP, Chancellor, said: “Great to visit the Port of Tilbury with the Home Secretary and see how they’re preparing for Brexit. The £2.1bn no-deal funding I’ve announced today will accelerate preparations at the border, support business readiness and ensure the supply of critical medicines.”

“Tilbury2 will add much-needed European-facing ferry capacity at a crucial time for the UK economy,” commented Carole Cran, Chief Financial Officer of Forth Ports Group (owner of the Port of Tilbury), after hosting the Chancellor and the Home Secretary.

“In addition, our existing port infrastructure and experienced staff stand ready to flex in order to provide greater resilience to vital pan-European supply chains in preparation 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.

“Tilbury2 is a significant part of the Port’s £1 billion investment strategy as we look to provide the next generation of logistics facilities to equip Britain to take advantage of new business opportunities and cement existing trading relationships.”

Ashley Nicholson from Forth Ports has been appointed Vice-President of the UK Harbour Masters Association. Ashley is the first female harbour master to hold the title and she is also the youngest certificated Harbour Master in the UK to hold the VP role with the UKMHA.

The UK Harbour Masters Association consists of harbour masters from ports across the UK, both publicly and privately owned and represents a unique source of relevant, experience in a range of port and marine operations. The main objective of the association, which was formed in 1993, is to encourage the safe and efficient conduct of marine operations in ports.

Ashley has worked for Forth Ports for nearly 12 years starting her career with the port group as VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) Operator and since 2017 she has been the Senior Harbour Master based in Leith. Ashley is the youngest certified Harbour Master in the UK. In 2016, Ashley won the prestigious Scottish Engineering / Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow Award for the role she played in managing the marine operations during the construction of the new Queensferry Crossing in the River Forth.

Commenting on her appointment, Ashley said: “I am honoured to have been voted in as Vice-President of the UKHMA. The association is well respected in the industry with its views being widely sought. I am looking forward to my playing my part at an important time for marine organisations.”

Martin Willis AFNI, Executive Officer of the UKHMA said: “We congratulate Ashley on her advancement to the position of Vice President of The United Kingdom Harbour Masters Association, a position fully achieved on merit and on appointment by her peers within the association. Ashley has proved to be a very capable individual who, for a number of years, has actively contributed to the executive council of the association and represents the association both regionally and nationally across the UK. We wish her all success in her new role.”

9 July 2019

The FPSO vessel the Curlew arrived into Dundee on 22 June where she will undergo cleaning and waste disposal in preparation for being fully decommissioned. The vessel is owned by Shell UK and the contractor is being undertaken by Augean North Sea Services located at the Port of Dundee.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports said: “We welcome the Shell Curlew into Dundee for the start of her decommissioning. This is a significant project for Augean and the port and clearly demonstrates the unrivalled capability of our infrastructure and the supply chain that we have developed in Dundee to take on these large-scale projects. Augean’s on site class leading waste management facility, coupled with our new heavy lift quayside and marine capability, is an attractive offering to the North Sea oil & gas decommissioning sector. The proximity to the skills base in Dundee along with our available land space and quayside makes Dundee the port of choice for large scale decommissioning in Scotland.”

The concrete pour of the first slab of the Tilbury2 roll on /roll off terminal took place this week by main contractor GRAHAM civils and Gill Civil Engineering supporting with the concrete project.

When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and the creation of a new significantly larger rail head which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m.

Tilbury2 will act as a satellite of the main port and will comprise a:
• roll on/roll off ferry terminal for importing and exporting containers and trailers
• facility for importing, processing, manufacturing and distributing construction materials
• storage area for a variety of goods, including exported and imported cars
• new national strategic rail and road connection into the site.

For more information about Tilbury2 go to www.tilbury2.co.uk

Forth Ports in partnership with Eddie Stobart and Direct Rail Services today (18 June) announce a new weekend service linking, for the first time by rail, the ports of Tilbury and Grangemouth, Scotland’s largest port.

The new two-way rail service will commence on Friday 28th June and has been launched on the back of customer demand to open up the rail link between the South of England with Central Scotland. The first train will leave Tilbury on a Friday via Daventry and travel overnight arriving into Grangemouth on a Saturday.

The service which uses the DRS state-of-the-art locomotives and wagon fleet has a capacity to travel with 36 Containers and will be managed by Eddie Stobart working closely with both Forth Ports and DRS. The containers will carry cargo to Scotland from the South East including retail goods, food and drink. The return journey from Grangemouth, Scotland’s largest port, will support the country’s export market with the movement of spirits, chemicals and fresh food including potatoes.

Rail continues to be a key focus due to the reduced carbon emissions and this new service will connect ports in Southern England to central Scotland without using the already congested UK road network.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer, Forth Ports said: “Linking our ports in the South East and Scotland by rail has been a priority for us and we are pleased to partner with Eddie Stobart and DRS on this new service. The service comes on the back of an increase in business at our busy container terminals and underpins our commitment to provide sustainable and cost-effective logistics solutions for our customers, aiding growth and competitiveness in the supply chain. This is the first time that a rail service truly links our ports in Tilbury and Grangemouth which opens up a number of import and export opportunities for our business and customers.”

John Clark, Sector Director at Eddie Stobart said: “Eddie Stobart Logistics remains one of the only UK operators to offer genuine modal choice for customers, and we’re delighted to be able to extend our rail offering through our new partnership with Direct Rail Services and Forth Ports. Unlike many rail operators, our services are built in direct response to customer requirements – that’s why we’re introducing a new service that will link the Port of Tilbury to Grangemouth for the first time. We believe this will help to provide our customers with a cost effective and sustainable means of moving goods between Southern England and Central Scotland.”

Chris Connelly, Chief Operating Officer at DRS commented: “The DRS team are incredibly proud and excited to be working with Forth Ports and Eddie Stobart on this innovative project utilising our state-of-the-art locomotives and wagon fleet. Through partnerships such as these many more road miles can be saved and huge environment benefits will continue to be delivered by rail.”

18 June 2019

Investment in Forth Port’s busy container terminals in Grangemouth and London continues with a multimillion-pound order of eleven new Kalmar straddle carriers across the group.

London Container Terminal (LCT) took delivery of six new Kalmar machines this week (see images) and Grangemouth will receive five new machines in early 2020.

In London, three of the six new straddles are part of LCT’s equipment replacement programme, with the other three going into service to meet the increase in container business at the terminal. The current fleet at the terminal is now 36 straddles. London Container Terminal handles a diverse range of conventional and reefer containers with cargos ranging from fresh fruit and vegetables to bricks and steel.

In Grangemouth the purchase of the five new straddles is part of a major investment programme at Scotland’s container terminal to increase its capacity for storing both conventional containers and reefers (refrigerated containers). The new straddle carriers will replace five of the existing fleet of 16 and commence the transition to four high straddles from the current three high straddles. The port also welcomed a new Liebherr ship to shore container crane last year which is already delivering faster turnaround times. Grangemouth handles some of Scotland’s most valuable exports, such as fine foods and drinks, with more than £6 billion worth of goods passes through the port each year including steel plate, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports said: “We are investing across the group and with these 11 new Kalmar straddles for our busy container terminals in London and Grangemouth, we secure their position as key shipping and distribution locations offering some of the most efficient landside operations in the industry. At LCT we have the capacity to handle in excess of half a million containers each year and it is the only UK port truly servicing both deep sea and short sea customers. Customers of LCT also benefit from access to Europe’s largest portside chill store sitting on the doorstep of the largest consumption market in the UK.

Grangemouth is Scotland’s largest container terminal and handles some of the country’s most important exports including food and drink to Europe and beyond. These new straddles build on the significant investment we have made in Grangemouth over the past 5 years to ensure an efficient service for our customers.”

Forth Ports will be at Multimodal 18-20 June, NEC Stand 3010

17June 2019

Forth Ports, one of the largest Port Groups in the UK, has rolled out Reactec’s innovative wearable system which monitors the vibration exposure experienced by power tool users to reduce the risk of developing the incurable HAVS* condition.

The investment of around 100 HAVwear watches, to upgrade their existing Reactec HAV management technology, demonstrates Forth Ports’ continued high level of commitment to Health and Safety across their business. HAVwear, is a wearable wrist worn device that determines in real time an individual’s exposure to vibration during every day use of power tools which are used at the ports.

Forth Ports own and operate eight commercial ports in the UK – Tilbury (London), Grangemouth, Dundee, Leith, Rosyth, Methil, Burntisland and Kirkcaldy – and implements a ‘Safety F1rst’ culture at all levels across the business to protect employees, customers and visitors.

Forth Ports has its own in house engineering teams who maintain port equipment including very large container cranes, straddles carriers and fork lift trucks. The Reactec team supported the implementation of the HAVwear watches and provided onsite train the trainer sessions to allow instructions to be disseminated across the group. The tools used across the business range from small battery screwdrivers to impact wrenches, with grinders, hammer drills and many other tools in between.

Dr Derek McGlashan, Group Health, Safety & Environment Manager for Forth Ports said: “As a major employer across the UK, the health and safety of our workforce is at the core of our values with safety being our top priority. We have worked with Reactec for a number of years, reviewing and commenting on their scientific studies and have been impressed with their commitment to seeking innovative ways to reduce the risk that over exposure to vibration can cause people in the workplace. Our roll out of HAVwear is now complete and the feedback from our engineering teams has been positive.

Sadly, all too often in Safety we focus on events that have occurred, this is one of a number of pro-active actions we continue to invest in to ensure the health and wellbeing of our employees to prevent them being injured at work. This system fits neatly into our Safety Management System and our existing Occupational Health Surveillance Programme. Where employees are potentially exposed to vibration, all organisations should take vibration management and monitoring seriously, as the impact of poor vibration management can have life changing consequences for tool users.”

Jacqui McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Reactec said: “It’s great to work with Forth Ports who have a strong safety culture across their ports. With HAVwear Forth Ports can now confidently determine real time vibration exposure which will ultimately help reduce the risk of their workforce being exposed to HAV and developing the incurable HAVS condition. We designed and launched HAVwear three years ago to ease the assessment of HAV exposure and help employers reduce the risk faced by a workforce using vibrating tools and in recent published research in the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics** our data has been independently validated.” (**see notes to editors for more).

Launched in 2016, HAVwear is a wearable wrist device that monitors in real time an individual’s exposure to vibration when using power tools. Reactec’s analytical platform provides cloud-based reporting which allows dynamic risk assessment and exposure reduction. HAVwear has enjoyed significant sales since its launch and is in use by a number of leading companies in the UK, including British Airways, Murphy Group, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty, the Environment Agency, Siemens and Babcock. Reactec is also targeting other industry sectors both in the UK and internationally.

* Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which is also known as Vibration White Finger, is one of the most common industrial diseases in the UK. The condition is usually caused by the prolonged use of power hand tools, whose vibrations can damage the blood vessels, nerves, muscles and joints of the hand, wrist and arm. 300,000 people in the UK suffer from the condition, for which there is no known cure, only prevention.

14 June 2019