LONDON: Runcorn Docks has doubled the amount of freight it handled over the past 12 months following a multi-million pound investment by owner Peel Ports.
And in December, the facility dealt with 50,126 tonnes of cargo – its highest-ever monthly total.
The cumulative weight of the record shipment of cargo is equivalent to more than 31,420 Range Rover Evoques, more than 66.8m boxes of Kellogg’s Cornflakes or more than 122m tins of beans.
In the same month, the port also handled its biggest ever single shipment of cargo in its history, with the arrival of vessel Kristin C, which discharged 6,212 tonnes of soda ash for its customer Newport Industries. The ash will be used to manufacture glass.
Over the past 12 months, tonnage handled by the port has increased by 48% from 275,978 tonness in 2013 to 408,636 tonnes last year.
This figure is expected to increase by a further 12.5% in 2015 as Runcorn is forecast to handle around 460,000 tonnes of cargo.
Peel has invested more than £3.4m in improvements to facilities at Runcorn Docks in the last five years, including the renovation and development of its warehousing capabilities and the introduction of two new Liebherr material handler cranes.
The cranes which alone represent an investment of £1m have improved operational performance and flexibility of cargo handling at the port. This has helped increased cargo handling capabilities, as well as delivering maximum benefits to its customers.
Port Director, David Huck, said: “Year-on-year we are seeing continued growth at Runcorn Docks.
“The fact that we have just witnessed the best month in the last 25 years and welcomed the largest cargo ship in the history of the port shows that it is fast becoming a significant port of call along the Manchester Ship Canal. These record-breaking figures reflect the benefits of our continued investment.”
