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Port of Liverpool or the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company - MDHC (UK) (ID: 15519)
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There is no agreement with any other party to produce a website or directory for the Port of Liverpool or the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Development in the Port of Liverpool continues to move at a fast pace as companies within the substantial port community invest in an even stronger future. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company leads the way with nearly ?100 million worth of projects over the last five years across a range of the Port's broad spectrum of trades. The Port of Liverpool has benefited from its long-term policy of maintaining and developing the most diverse range of traffics to be handled by any UK port Other companies too, are funding developments which will secure their own position in the marketplace. At the same time, in demonstrating their own commercial confidence, they enhance Liverpool's prominence as an efficient, cost effective port now regularly handling over 30 million tonnes of cargo a year more than at any time in its long history. All this is reflected in the Port of Liverpool's Website which records the progress achieved and the plans put in place for their continuing development. Nearly ?100 million has been invested by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in the Port of Liverpool over the past five years. Other companies within the port community have spent many millions more on enhancing their facilities and competitive position in the marketplace. The reward for such commitment is now showing through in the quality and range of services being offered to a broadening spectrum of customers across the Port's diverse operations. Mersey Docks has been in the vanguard of change which has transformed performance and enhanced Liverpool's status as one of the UK's major and most efficient ports. Container Terminal Commitment In containers, ?25 million worth of investment has honed Liverpool's Seaforth Terminal into an operation hailed by users as the best of its kind in the country with ships regularly turned around in less than 12 hours and road haulage delivering and collecting boxes dealt with in an average of 30 minutes. More than half-a-million TEUs now cross the quays every year as Liverpool's line-up of container services goes global Mersey Docks' financial commitment included a 30% expansion of the container stacking area, creation of a logistics centre for all lines using the terminal, a multi-lane gatehouse and a 25-bay interchange area. Five new faster ship-to-shore gantry cranes were installed and half the straddle carrier fleet replaced. The whole of the Container Terminal operation is controlled by state-of-the-art terminal management computer systems. More than half-a-million TEUs (20ft equivalent units) now cross the quays every year as Liverpool's line-up of container services goes global. New services have joined the established lines already reaping the benefits not only of the multi-million pound redevelopment of Liverpool's container operation, but also the cost efficiencies to be gained on inland distribution from the Port's strategic geographic location. Seaforth Dock handles a broad spectrum of traffic including grain, containers, timber, forest products and metals The world's two largest container lines have joined the ranks of services regularly sailing from the Seaforth Terminal. The Mediterranean Shipping Company SA of Geneva (MSC), the second largest container operator, established a weekly service to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean at the beginning of 2002. Months later Maersk Sealand, No.1 in the global league table, launched the weekly "Liverpool Express" service to Northern Europe, Iberia and the Mediterranean. Both the MSC and Maersk services link into their major hubs for MSC Antwerp and Valencia and for Maersk Le Havre, Algeciras and Gioia Tauro opening up their extensive global networks to shippers through the Port of Liverpool. Back to top Mersey Docks has been in the vanguard of change which has transformed performance and enhanced Liverpool's status as one of the UK's major and most efficient ports Irish Sea Upgrades While newcomers discover the significant benefits of serving Liverpool, established lines continue to build on the advantages with larger ships and increased sailings. The ?25 million Twelve Quays River Terminal development by Mersey Docks has shaved an average 90 minutes off the time taken to cross the Irish Sea Across the Mersey at Birkenhead, the Twelve Quays River Terminal became operational in June 2002, consolidating Liverpool's pole position in trade between Britain and Ireland. The ?25 million development by Mersey Docks has shaved an average 90 minutes off the time taken to cross the Irish Sea by eliminating the need for the ferries to enter the Port's enclosed docks. NorseMerchant Ferries is already operating five sailings a day to Belfast and Dublin from Twelve Quays. Mersey Docks anticipates an imminent green light for development of a second river terminal for Irish Sea ro-ro ferries at Langton Dock, Liverpool. A further Irish Sea development, of new marshalling facilities for the SuperSeaCat passenger and car ferry services to Dublin and Douglas Isle of Man, is being considered in tandem with a Liverpool City Council ?10 million initiative for an enlarged landing stage to accommodate the berthing of cruise liners at Pier Head. Irish Sea operator P&O European Ferries has increased capacity on its twice daily Dublin service by deploying larger vessels on the Liverpool route. Back to top The Twelve Quays River Terminal is consolidating Liverpool's pole position in trade between Britain and Ireland Grain Sector Expansion The Seaforth Grain Terminal, the UK's largest grain import facility, has undergone its own expansion in response to customer demand for additional capacity and services. New systems mean the Terminal now offers 24-hour working and the addition of new silos has created more storage to meet the needs of the industry. In the same area of the Port, a 23,100 sq m (250,000 sq ft) animal feed warehouse is being built for use by Arkady Feed (UK) Limited, one of the world's largest grain trading groups. Another development in the grain sector involves a ?3.85 million state-of-the-art plant by Cargill Plc for producing masa flour, the prime ingredient used in snack foods. Back to top Mersey Docks' determination and confidence to forge a strong future for Liverpool has been mirrored by the many other major and smaller operators in the Port. Continuing Attractions Elsewhere in the Port investment by Mersey Docks and other companies is attracting additional traffic, whether at the Gladstone Steel Terminal, the Gladstone Bulk Terminal where coal imports have increased to nearly 2 million tonnes annually; the recycled metals operations of firms such as Nortons who have invested ?15 million in new processing plant and dockside head office; or SvG Intermol's construction of five new storage tanks specifically designed to accommodate 100,000 tonnes a year of high purity phosphoric acid. Inside the Gladstone Steel Terminal warehouse Back to top Position of strength The Port of Liverpool has benefited from its long-term policy of maintaining and developing the most diverse range of traffics to be handled by any UK port, providing a hedge against the vagaries of individual trades. Though many will concede that times are tough in the world of international trade, the port community is equally quick to point out Liverpool's response has been to take a very firm grip of its own destiny. Mersey Docks' determination and confidence to forge a strong future for Liverpool has been mirrored by the many other major and smaller operators in the Port. Liverpool has established a long-term position of strength in the realm of international trade. Back to top Liverpool has established a long-term position of strength in the realm of international trade Timeless advantage Much has changed in the Port of Liverpool with new facilities, services and systems contributing to a "renaissance" which has seen trade rise to record levels. What has not changed is the Port's geographic location and the significant advantages that timeless factor offers to shippers and shipowners alike. However, what has always been constant is gaining more and more recognition as other factors influence the arithmetic of distribution by land and sea. In a world where highway congestion equates to highway robbery in lost time and money, Liverpool's location at the heart of the UK, on the doorstep of so many major conurbations of population and production, and at the centre of national motorway and rail networks is gaining increased recognition as a major logistics plus. Liverpool's central location makes it the first choice for multimodal transportation by road, rail and sea serving Britain, Ireland and Continental Europe Distribution Focus More and more shipping lines see the advantages of using a deepwater port, which not only offers efficiency on the quayside but works out miles faster and cheaper in inland distribution. It is no coincidence that the world's top two container lines have both established new services from Liverpool in the past year. Irish Sea roll-on roll-off traffic is heading for the Port of Liverpool in greater waves Irish Sea roll-on roll-off traffic too, is heading for the Port of Liverpool in greater waves, attracted by the proliferation of services to Ireland from new state-of-the-art terminals, but also by the shorter haul as compared with the costly alternatives to the north and south. The economics of swapping a long inland haul for a slightly longer sea crossing is being underlined with every tachograph restriction and working day directive invoked or in the legislative pipeline. The simple truism that "more miles mean more hours mean more expense" is increasingly acknowledged by cargo movers weary with high fuel costs and battling against a shortage of truck drivers as well as lost time and money in traffic snarl-ups. Back to top More and more shipping lines see the advantages of using a deepwater port, which not only offers efficiency on the quayside but works out miles faster and cheaper in inland distribution Highway Connections At Liverpool, the national motorway network runs almost to the dock gate. Less than two miles from many of the Port's major terminals by dual carriageway lies the M57 linking with the East-West M62 and the south-bound M6, and the M58 connecting within minutes with the north-bound M6. On the south bank of the River Mersey at Birkenhead Docks, the Twelve Quays Irish Sea ro-ro terminal is but a mile from the M53 motorway, linking with the M56 to Greater Manchester and North Wales as well as the north-south M6 artery. Other terminals within the Port are even closer to the M53 trunk route. Liverpool's location puts it closer to more major centres of population and production than any other UK port. Back to top In a world where highway congestion equates to highway robbery in lost time and money, Liverpool's location at the heart of the UK is gaining increased recognition as a major logistics plus Prime logistics solutions In working to provide the best logistics solutions for its customers, Liverpool has developed a seamless interchange between land and sea, not only by road but also by rail. Mersey Docks' encouragement of transportation by train has given the Port more independent rail terminals than any of its UK competitors. Mersey Docks' encouragement of transportation by train has given the Port more independent rail terminals than any of its UK competitors. The Seaforth Branch Line handles some eight trains a day, carrying deepsea and shortsea containers to all corners of the UK, plus steel and containerised coal. The Gladstone Bulk Terminal moves thousands of tonnes of coal each day by train to hungry power stations and a daily train arrives at the railhead of European Metals Recycling with Britain's scrap for export overseas after processing. Regular trains arrive too, at the Gladstone Steel Terminal, both delivering exports and collecting imports. A rail link has been established with the latest units to be built at Liverpool Intermodal Freeport Terminal (LIFT), the 30-hectare (70-acre) site where Mersey Docks is developing 8,600 sq m (860,000 sq ft) of modern commercial accommodation. The possibility of re-establishing rail routes into Birkenhead Docks is also the subject of serious discussion between Mersey Docks, Wirral Borough Council and the rail authority. Back to top Growing Coastal Network The Port of Liverpool already handles nearly 100 trains a week, and the traffic is growing. But the Port is playing its part too, in the transfer of freight to coastal shipping. Liverpool now has a string of container services to other parts of the UK and Northern European ports such as Le Havre, as well as a network of services to the Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean. Liverpool's locality has never changed. But every fresh influence on the tough economics of international logistics has meant a significant, positive shift in the Port's position as THE gateway to the heart of the United Kingdom. Diverse portfolio Although The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company's interests are today many and varied, the heart of its business remains the operation and maintenance of port facilities on the Rivers Mersey and Medway, and at Heysham on the West Coast of the UK, north of Liverpool. As the UK's second largest port group, its activities include the provision of cargo handling and associated services, the conservancy and pilotage of Liverpool, Medway and Heysham and their approaches, and the development of their respective dock estates. The Company is the police authority for the Port of Liverpool Police Force and operator of both Liverpool Freeport, which has been extended to include designated land at Birkenhead, and of the Freeport at the Port of Sheerness. Catchment area for the Port of Liverpool and Medway Ports Wholly-owned subsidiaries include Coastal Container Line Ltd, which operates door-to-door container services through the ports of Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin and Cardiff, Rotterdam-based BG Freight Line Holding BV which offers container services between Northern Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland, and Concorde Container Line Ltd which provides a container service between Northern Continental Europe and the East Coast of England and Scotland. Portia Management Services Ltd, also a wholly-owned subsidiary, carries out consultancy assignments in port and harbour management and operations while another group subsidiary, Portia World Travel Ltd, conducts a travel agency business. Another totally-owned subsidiary of Mersey Docks is the Princes Dock Development Co Ltd, which is responsible for the City of Liverpool's prime waterfront development site. Mersey Docks Property Holdings also owns a storage, manufacturing and distribution facility at Rainham, Kent, and the Group owns the entire share capital of Sheerness Cool Stores Ltd, operator of part of the Rainham facility. The Company has 50 percent interests in Fresh Fruit Terminal (Sheerness) Ltd, and TR Shipping Ltd which provides a freight forwarding service between Britain, Continental Europe and Ireland, and wholly owns Seawing International Ltd offering freight forwarding and ship agency services. Marine Terminals Ltd, which operates IrelandOs major container terminal in the Port of Dublin, is owned by the Mersey Docks Group, as are subsidiaries Roadferry Ltd, Link Transport Services Ltd and Dublin Container and Transport Services Ltd, which provide logistics and port services. It was in May 2001 that Mersey Docks acquired Heysham Port Ltd and also has a 50 percent interest in Merseyside-based Northwestern Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders Ltd. The Mersey Docks Group, which reported a pretax profit of ?53.3 million on a turnover of ?273.0 million in the financial year ended 31 December 2002, is also a substantial landowner with over 800 hectares of dockland at Liverpool, 336 hectares at Medway Ports and 48 hectares at Heysham. The Port of Liverpool has benefited from its long-term policy of maintaining and developing the most diverse range of traffics to be handled by any UK Port of Liverpool or the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company - MDHC (UK)