ABP has expanded its capacity to store refrigerated containers at the Port of Hull in a £500,000 investment.
The installation of two new power-suppling gantries at Humber Container Terminal has been completed, allowing the site to welcome an additional 64 ‘reefers’ - the industry term for such a container, used to transport perishable goods, including seafood.
Reefers use an integral refrigeration unit that keeps the goods inside at an optimum temperature. The unit is supplied with power from the vessel or vehicle during transit.
The two new reefer gantries allow containers on the terminal to be stacked four high, saving valuable ground space, that in turn increases its storage capacity for other types of containers.
Simon Bird, regional director for ABP, said that as the Covid-19 crisis continues, now more than ever this expansion will help support the flow of perishable goods into the UK such as food and medicine.
“ABP has been investing heavily in the container infrastructure on the Port of Hull since 2018,” he said. “This new facility will add further resource to support our customers, as the UK container market here on the Humber continues to grow.”
ABP is also improving the Humber Container Terminal facilities on Port of Immingham, with an investment of £33 million to modernise equipment and increase container storage space.
Earlier this year the port welcomed six new electric rubber tyre gantry cranes, like those already on the Port of Hull. More equipment is set to arrive by sea later this year.
The works were carried out by Hull-based engineering solutions specialist C Spencer Ltd, who subcontracted the fabrication of the steelwork for the gantries to Riley Engineering, of Burstwick, East Yorkshire.
Mr Bird said the investment would benefit customers, BG Freight Line, I–Motion Shipping, and Samskip, and would reduce the reliance on third party generators.
