Port cranes in an ABP cargo boost

ABP’s Port of Ayr has announced the delivery of a new state- of- the- art Liebherr Materials Handler crane, which will help improve operations and optimise the speed of cargo- handling.

Becoming the first port in the UK to purchase this brand new model, the Port of Ayr has benefited from ABP’s wider commitment to promoting business growth in its Scottish ports.

The new crane, representing a £ 800,000 investment, brings the total figure invested in ABP’s Scottish Ports to over £ 2 million in the last 12 months.

With a lifting capacity of 8.1 tonnes at a reach of 23.8m, the new machine will help the Port of Ayr deliver industry- leading vessel discharge rates for local importers while at the same time improving both fuel efficiency of up to 30 per cent and lowering vehicle emissions.

Commenting on the arrival of the bespoke new machine ABP’s Port Manager, Stuart Cresswell, said: “The Port of Ayr has an enviable reputation of being one of the UK quickest ports for cargo discharge, which saves our customers a lot of money.

“Locally, it is easy to forget that Ayrshire is a fairly remote community in the UK context so the link that the port provides in reducing transportation cost for our customers and connecting them to the rest of the UK and Europe is hugely important.

“Especially in the current economic climate, which is seeing a rise in the cost of diesel and road haulage, the growth prospects for ports appear bright, as they offer a cost effective alternative to moving goods by road.”

ABP’s ports at Troon and Ayr contribute a combined £ 40million to the UK economy.