ABP invests in vehicle handling
Associated British Ports (ABP) is building a port that will support the car industry in the UK by investing £12m in its vehicle handling facilities at Southampton.
This investment will create more than 5,700 new storage spaces for vehicles from some of the UK’s biggest automotive exporters.
Nick Ridehalgh, ABP Director Southampton, said: “The Port of Southampton is a key part of the supply chain for some of Britain’s biggest export success stories. Our investment is proof both of the international appetite for British made vehicles and of our commitment to support that growth with premier class facilities.”
Southampton is the UK’s leading vehicle handling port and is experiencing significant growth in the volume of vehicles over the quayside, with numbers jumping 11% from 750,000 in 2013 to 834,000 in 2014.
As a result, the operator is investing in a five storey facility in the Eastern Docks capable of handling 3,200 vehicles and a dedicated inspection area. In the Western Docks, more than £3m is being invested in creating a 12-acre open air car handling facility with 2,500 spaces for cars imported into the UK. Work is due to start in May and complete in March 2016.
The vehicle handling investment comes as the finishing touches are applied to a £6m investment in the port’s Europe-leading turnaround cruise business, with improvements having been made to the Mayflower Cruise Terminal.
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