Grangemouth to extend reefer handling

UK: A significant investment in electricity supply will boost the reefer handling capabilities at the Port of Grangemouth, Scotland’s largest container terminal.

The port’s owner, Forth Ports, is to significantly invest in extending the electricity supply infrastructure at the port from 126 specialist power supply points to 432.

The installation of the increased power supply infrastructure, which is planned for completion by October, is in response to market demand, principally from Scotland’s fresh food exporters, created by a significantly longer season for the shipping of such produce as potatoes, cheese, fish and seafood to markets across the world. 

The news follows the announcement in June of a major investment programme at the Port of Grangemouth to increase its capacity for storing both conventional containers and reefers and the commissioning of a feasibility study into deepening the shipping channel within the port to handle larger vessels.

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 and this exciting development ensures that Grangemouth will be well placed to support demand growth in this segment.”