SuperPort plan could see Mersey trade treble
Trade volumes passing through the Port of Liverpool could treble, it has been claimed.
A director at economic development agency, The Mersey Partnership, made the claim while commenting on TMP’s Mersey SuperPort plan in an Liverpool Daily Post Business video released today.
Mark Basnett, director of investment at TMP said: “The potential within the port and other projects that are looking to come forward, we can increase a huge amount, maybe by 200%.”
Currently just under 30m tonnes of cargo is handled at the Port of Liverpool every year, with another 7m passing through the Manchester Ship Canal.
If Mr Basnett’s forecasts are correct, that figure would rise to 90m tonnes at the Port of Liverpool.
Gary Hodgson, managing director of Peel Ports, which owns the Port of Liverpool, said: “We are very close to lots and lots of population.
“We are relatively small compared with some ports in Asia, and there’s some catching up to do.
“We have huge opportunity in terms of logistics facilities, but the key is being part of a supply chain.”
The SuperPort plan includes the creation of a new £200m in-river container berth at Seaforth that would be able to handle the world’s largest cargo ships. Another part of the plan is the recently announced 1.4m sq ft expansion of Stobart’s container handling facilities at Widnes.
Peter Nears, head of strategic development at Peel Holdings, described the plan as a step change.
He added: “Looking back to the history of Liverpool, Jesse Hartley in 1844 opened five docks in one go. Gladstone Dock was built in 1927. It had the ability to cater for any ship afloat. That was a step change. Then containerisation in Seaforth in the 1960s was another step change.
“We are discussing with a number of users (of the in-river berth).”
‹
Back
The Capital, 39 Old Hall Street, Liverpool
L3 9PP
Telephone: +44(0)151 600 2900
Email:
info@liverpoolvision.co.uk