LONDON: A new terminal has been opened on the banks of the Usk in Newport to protect ships from bad weather as they unload cargo.
The £1.5 million structure, made of steel, towers above other buildings in the Lliswerry industrial area at 25 metres high, 60 metres long and 40 metres wide, spanning the dock. It is serviced by a giant crane which can handle 35 tonnes, according to Cargo Services (UK) Ltd, the company which commissioned the terminal at its Bird Port compound.Ships docking at any time of day and night can now be unloaded no matter how bad the weather becomes.This is the first building of its kind to be built in Wales and indeed the western coast of Europe, the company said.Construction has taken just over 14 months to complete, with foundations built 22 metres deep to anchor the structure in place so it can accommodate ships weighing up to 8,000 tonnes.
A spokesman for the company said the “huge investment” was leading the way in rejuvenating the area. Since Cargo Services took over the site 10 years ago trade at the port has grown from 182,000 tonnes per year to 694,000 tonnes in 2013The new terminal will handle cargo coming in and out of Wales for its major customer Tata Steel.
Managing director John Davey said: “It is extremely important not only to us but the whole of the Welsh economy that Tata Steel continues to flourish and be successful. The building of this facility will help them have a competitive edge in the export market when chartering ships to carry their products, being able to assure ship owners that their vessels will not be hampered by unwelcome rain delays.”
The structure has been built using Welsh materials, including metal from Dyfed Steels of Llanelli and cladding material from Capital Coated Steels in Cardiff.
