Grimsby gets approval for dedicated Ro-Ro

The Port of Grimsby and Immingham is the UK’s busiest car handling port, with over 565,000 units shipped in 2010. Manufacturers serviced at Grimsby include Volkswagen Group, Toyota and Peugeot Citroen.

Specialist car carrying ships are currently berthed in Grimsby’s Alexandra Dock, which is accessed through the port’s original Royal Lock, built in the mid-nineteenth century.

However, Grimsby’s new riverside facilities will be able to accommodate vessels carrying in excess of 3,000 vehicles, significantly increasing the port’s capacity and making it more attractive to carriers.

John Fitzgerald, ABP port director for Grimsby and Immingham said, “Grimsby has carved a niche in this important trade by offering vehicle manufacturers specialist facilities. We need to equip the port for the future by allowing larger vessels to call and will be working closely with port customers to deliver what will be the largest project in Grimsby’s recent history.”

Peter Jones, ABP Group chief executive pointed out that, “The permission to build the riverside berths at Grimsby comes hot on the heels of consent to upgrade berths in Southampton to handle the ultra-large container ships being delivered over the next few years.” He went on to say that the investment was needed to future-proof both ports so they could continue to service the new generation of ships that will be soon coming on stream.

ABP has been working closely on this project with GBA, the Grimsby based automotive logistics group which manages the car terminals at the port.

The Associated British Ports’ Harbour Revision Order 2011 for the Grimsby riverside Ro-Ro terminal was made by the Secretary of State for Transport under Section 14 of the Harbours Act 1964. It came into force in early April 2011.