Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, was welcomed to Scotland’s key strategic freight hub at the Port of Grangemouth today (6 March). In her first visit to a major port in her new role, the Cabinet Secretary was briefed by the senior port team, including CEO designate, Stuart Wallace, on the investment programme underway at the port – and across the group’s Scottish ports – including upgrades to infrastructure, equipment and rail.

Commenting on her visit, the Cabinet Secretary said: “The Port of Grangemouth is a crucial gateway to Scotland and has a key role to play in reducing transport emissions as well as supporting national, regional and local economies. Forth Ports should be congratulated for its commitment, and the actions it is taking, to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042. I am keen to work with the port to ensure its benefits to Scotland are maximised. Commitments like this support our National Transport Strategy and we will continue to work with the freight sector to reduce emissions and make a significant positive contribution to our Net Zero target.”

The Port of Grangemouth, which handles 30% of Scottish GDP, will be a strategic site as part of the new Forth Green Freeport which will help to transform the port and the surrounding industrial complex into a major low carbon logistics, fuels, processing and R&D centre for the Scottish economy.

Stuart Wallace, CEO designate of the Forth Ports Group, who led the visit, said: “It was a pleasure to host Ms Hyslop today and to showcase the key role the Port of Grangemouth plays in Scotland’s logistics and freight sector, connecting importers and exporters to mainland Europe and beyond.

 “The port’s growing international and domestic freight network seamlessly supports Scottish traders in efficiently moving their materials and goods to and from international destinations.”

Derek Knox, Director of Operations – Scottish Ports, commented: “The Port of Grangemouth is the country’s largest port and is Scotland’s freight hub of choice.  The Forth Green Freeport’s investment incentives, skills and infrastructure development package will build further momentum behind the growing port-centric footprint of the port, while supporting the growth of new green industries across the Forth Estuary, as the Scottish economy continues its just transition to net zero.”

 The Port of Grangemouth operates Scotland’s largest container port and freight hub. More than £6 billion worth of goods passes through Grangemouth each year including steel plate, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry. There are regular container services from Grangemouth with frequent sailings to mainland Europe and UK deep sea hub ports. Most of the major lines utilise these feeder services to link with mother container vessels plying between the world’s major ports.

 6 March 2024                                               -Ends-