SOUND FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR FOR ABP’S NORTH-WEST PORTS

SOUND FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR FOR ABP’S NORTH-WEST PORTS

Associated British Ports’ (ABP) North-West ports have enjoyed a good first half of the year, with developments in key trades.

Ayr & Troon

It has been a good first half of the year for the Scottish Ports of Ayr & Troon, with an increase in the volume of timber handled compared to the same period last year.In July, Ayr received a cruise call from ResidenSea’s luxury cruise vessel, The World.Weighing 43,524 tonnes, The World carries up to 976 permanent residents, guests and crew at any time.The vessel features onboard shops and restaurants, a library, theatre and an art gallery.It is also distinguished by its golf and tennis facilities, global-communications systems and a luxury spa.

Garston & Fleetwood

Garston won new business, handling sea-dredged aggregates under a long-term agreement with one of the UK’s leading suppliers of heavy building materials, Hanson Aggregates.Garston also handled increased volumes of steel imports from the Mediterranean countries.

The Port of Fleetwood has experienced a good first half of the year, and the port’s ferry service to Larne in Northern Ireland is now operated by Stena Line (UK) Ltd.

Barrow & Silloth

HMS Bulwark, the Royal Navy's latest surface ship, was built at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow, and left the port in May to join its sister ship HMS Albion.ABP continues to play a central role with the local and regional development agencies in bringing forward regeneration-development plans for surplus operational areas of the dock estate at Barrow. These feature plans for a marina, marina village, cruise terminal and a business park.

At Silloth, ABP handled record tonnages of imported wheat and agribulks in the first half of the year.

John Copping, ABP’s Port Director, Short-Sea Ports, said:

“I am very pleased with the performance of ABP’s North-West ports in the first half of 2004, and this sound performance looks set to continue for the remainder of the year.”

1st September 2004

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