The port of Grangemouth is to receive a six-figure investment to increase its capacity for refrigerated containers.
The move will be a major boost for importers and exporters of fresh produce using Scotland’s largest container terminal.
The owners, Forth Ports Ltd, are significantly investing in extending the electricity supply infrastructure at Grangemouth from 126 specialist power supply points to 432.
Refrigerated containers – known as ‘reefers’ – need power immediately on arrival to keep their contents fresh until being loaded on to vessels for export or collection by haulage firms for delivery across Scotland.
The work is planned for completion by October and is in response to demand mainly from Scotland’s fresh food exporters.
The season for shipping produce including potatoes, cheese, fish and seafood to markets across the world has lengthened, creating the need for greater storage at the port.
The investment will maintain Grangemouth’s position as the largest reefer facility in Scotland.
Grangemouth is already undergoing a major investment programme to increase its capacity for storing conventional containers and reefers.
The programme also involves a feasibility study into deepening the shipping channel within the port to handle larger vessels.
Stuart Wallace, Forth Ports’ director of Scottish Operations, said: “Scotland has a growing reputation across the world for the quality of our fresh produce, and that’s resulted in increasing demand for reefer capacity.
“That’s good for the Scottish economy and good for business. We’re committed to investing in support of this growth through increasing our reefer capacity at the Port of Grangemouth.”
Mark Cornwell, operations manager UK & Ireland for Maersk Line, one of the principal shippers of fresh produce from Scotland, said: “Shipments of temperature-controlled products are a critical and growing part of our business in Scotland.
“This exciting development ensures that Grangemouth will be well placed to support demand growth in this segment.”
source: The Courier