UK Shipping Minister Visits Liverpool2 Site
U.K. Shipping Minister Robert Goodwill MP has welcomed the investment being made by Peel Ports during a March 10 visit to the company’s Liverpool2 container terminal.
Upon opening later this year, Liverpool2 will become one of Europe’s most modern and advanced semi-automated terminals, able to accommodate virtually all of the world’s deep sea container vessels. Marine trials are due to begin later this month, with other elements of the build coming online throughout Q2. The Liverpool2 development is part of a £650 million investment by Peel Ports in the region and will add to a previous £125m investment in the National Import Centre at Port Salford, the U.K.’s first tri-modal inland port facility and national distribution park.
“Merseyside has a rich maritime history and the future is looking bright thanks to major projects such as the Maritime Knowledge Hub and the deep water container terminal Liverpool2 at the Port of Liverpool,” Goodwill said. “The Government will continue to offer its full support to the maritime industry, a sector which is vitally important to the U.K. economy.”
Later during his visit, Goodwill formally opened the first phase of the new Maritime Knowledge Hub in Wirral. Operated jointly by sector development organization Mersey Maritime and Liverpool John Moores University, the new facility will aim to be a global center of excellence within the U.K., generating knowledge-led growth and innovation.
Targeting an increased share of a global maritime industries market worth more than £3 trillion, the hub will create a focal point for the Liverpool city region’s strengths and will ultimately include serviced business start-up space and support, an offshore survival centre and marine simulation center, and a state-of-the-art facility to help manufacturers design, test and build products or services.
The Port of Liverpool is connected to other parts of the U.K. by 10 motorways within a 10 mile radius, numerous rail connections and the Manchester Ship Canal. The largest volume and density of large warehousing (over 97k sq ft / 9k sq m) of any U.K. region is located within a 70 mile radius around Liverpool. The Port provides direct connections to Southampton, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Le Havre via Peel Ports’ own and third party feeder operators.