The spools, which measure 8.6m wide by 6.1m high, were constructed by Steel Engineering in their unit at Westway.  The size and shape of the goods prevented them from being transported to their final destination by road, where they will be used by the oil industry for laying pipes.

Moorfield Group, which is the investment and asset manager for Westway, have made it possible for the dock facility to be used by Steel Engineering and have plans for significant further investment to refurbish the dock.  Renfrewshire Council is also working with Moorfield to improve navigability along the Cart by undertaking a number of feasibility studies including a multi-beam sonar survey.  This will enable more substantial vessels to use the River Cart for the benefit of the occupiers of Westway.

In addition to being the first company to take advantage of the new access route, Steel Engineering carried out much of the refurbishment work on the River Cart’s Grade A listed bascule bridge, enabling it to be raised drawbridge style for the first time in many years and for the barge to pass through.  The bridge was first built in 1923 and is one of the last remaining fully operational drawbridge style crossings in the country.

The dock is believed to have been constructed in the early 1960’s and was last in use in the 1980’s.  The last company to use the Westway dock on the river was Mitsui Babcock (now called Doosan Babcock) who are also occupiers at Westway.  There has been significant interest from other occupiers on the park to use the dock in order to transport their cargo by river, which the owners are encouraging and supporting.

In addition to the recent use of the dock, Moorfield is planning to construct a bridge at a cost of £5 million which will form a direct link between Westway and Glasgow airport over the River Cart.  The combination of the dock and the bridge will enhance the strategic location of Westway and result in the park being one of the few industrial estates in the UK that can boast transport links by motorway, airport and river.