Port can handle more refrigerated containers

FORTH Ports is continuing its work to increase the number of ref rigerated containers that can be handled at the Port of Grangemouth.

The company said it is making a significant investment to expand the electricity supply at the port, which is home to Scotland’s largest container terminal.

Forth is increasing the number of specialist power supply points at the port by 126 to 432, handing a boost to Scottish importers and exporters of fresh produce.

Refrigerated containers, known as reefers, require power on their immediate arrival at ports to keep their contents fresh until they are loaded on to vessels for export or collection by haulage firms for delivery across Scotland.

Forth Ports said the investment comes in respond to growing demand f rom Scottish f resh produce exporters, driven by the longer season for shipping produce such as potatoes, cheese, fish and seafood.

It follows its unveiling in June of a major investment programme for the port to increase its capacity for storing conventional containers and reefers. A feasibility study into the deepening of the shipping channel to allow the port to handle larger vessels has also been commissioned.

Stuart Wallace, Forth Ports’ director of Scottish operations, said: “Scotland has a growing reputation right across the world for the quality of our fresh produce and that has resulted in increasing demand for reefer capacity.

“That is good for the Scottish economy and good for business and we are committed to investing in support of this growth through increasing our reefer capacity at the Port of Grangemouth.”

The Port of Grangemouth currently handles in excess of 155,000 containers per year.