A huge £4m programme of works has been completed on the Runcorn Docks, meaning the site located on the Manchester Ship Canal has fully reopened.
According to site owners Peel Ports Group, it has worked with McLaughlin and Harvey to reinstate and upgrade two of the four berths, with one having closed in January 2017.
The group has said the news means it is able to accommodate more vessels, meaning less congestion on the River Mersey, as well as offering customers to the Liverpool City Region docks greater flexibility.
Earlier this month, cargo vessel Mia Sophie B, operated for Peel Ports’ customer Lochaline Quartz Sand, was the first vessel to arrive at the dock, which expects to handle 200 vessels a year going forward.
Lance Weissenborn, operations director at Peel Ports Liverpool, said: “The arrival of cargo vessel Mia Sophie B marks a significant milestone at Runcorn Docks as it fully reopens for business following 14-months of construction to stabilise and rebuild the dock wall.
“The dock was limited to half its previous width as safety measures were implemented, but the reconstructed berths have now reopened and returned to full capacity.
"The design and construction of the works has followed industry standards and have been subject to detailed review and testing, with the strengthened dock wall enhancing our ability to accommodate vessels with heavier loads.
“The latest works at Runcorn Docks represent our continued investment into Manchester Ship Canal and we will continue to upgrade our facilities to offer our customers the most efficient and cost-effective port solutions.”
According to Peel Ports, the rebuilt dock has an increased load-baring capacity and can accommodate cranes and specialist handling equipment such as the Liebherr LHM 180, supporting the transportation of heavier cargo.
More than 100 years old, Runcorn Docks is undergoing continual upgrades to ensure state-of-the-art facilities are available for customers, with plans underway to redevelop the storage areas of the port in the next two to five years, Peel Ports said.
Next month, Dredging is scheduled at the docks to allow for the transportation of larger vessels and for cargo to be discharged more efficiently.
