The biggest vessel ever to berth at Peel Ports Great Yarmouth arrived last week, carrying a cargo of 3,300 cars, all destined for UK car dealerships.
At around 200m in length and weighing in at 64,000 tonnes – the equivalent of around 5,333 double decker buses – the Glovis Splendor is by far the largest ship handled by the Norfolk-based port.
The dedicated RoRo vessel transported 3,300 Hyundai vehicles more than three thousand miles, arriving at Great Yarmouth on Thursday 23rd June.
The cars have since been offloaded to dedicated port-side storage facilities at Great Yarmouth, where they await further distribution.
Previously the largest vessel handled by the port was the bulk cargo vessel ISOLDA, weighing in at 21,000 tonnes, which arrived in port on the 14th March 2016 to load grain for Gleadell Agriculture.
The milestone arrival marks six months since Peel Ports announced the purchase of Great Yarmouth Port Company Limited (GYPC). It signifies a period of significant growth and investment at the port.
Recent investments include around £5 million to strengthen and diversify the port’s renewable energy handling capabilities, resulting in contracts for the Galloper and ScottishPower Renewables East Anglia One wind farms located off the UK’s east coast.
Richard Goffin, director at Peel Ports Great Yarmouth, said: “This has been a week of firsts for us at Great Yarmouth. Not only have we welcomed the largest ship ever but it is also the first time we have seen new vehicles handled at the port.
“Thanks to a recent boom in the UK new car market, as well as our strengthened solutions-led approach as a business, we have been able to assist Hyundai in bringing vehicles to its UK customers.
“This is an exciting time for us as a port. Since Peel Ports took over at the start of the year, we have won several significant contracts in the renewable energy sector, as well as handled record volumes of grain, supporting agricultural demand in the South.
“Following the acquisition, we have been able to highlight the benefits that Great Yarmouth can offer to customers and, with the support of a wider Group, provide and attract inward investment that will enhance and transform our operations and facilities.”