The multi-million pound container transhipment terminal would service major trade routes to Europe, Asia and the Americas, acting effectively as a gateway port for the UK and Northern Europe whilst also serving as a Northern European hub.

Hunterston has one of the deepest sea entrance channels in Northern Europe as well as a sheltered location. Not requiring dredging on an annual basis would give it the flexibility to accommodate ever larger box ships without falling into the environmental battles affecting other proposals. Rail access from Hunterston will serve the UK Midlands and other markets.

Hunterston is a brownfield site with planning safeguards for future port development dependant on deep water access.

It would generate up to 250 jobs during the construction phase in an area of high unemployment and more than 1,000 jobs when fully operational.

Bill Burns, Hunterston Project Director, said 'Hunterston Container Hub has the opportunity to serve all of the UK and the North West Continent including Scandinavia. With growth rates in Northern European ports averaging close to 10% in the first half of 2002, and with these ports facing major environmental, dredging and land use issues, Hunterston is in an ideal situation with its natural deep water and brownfield site.'

MJ Information No: 19126