EUROPE

JV FOR NEW HUMBER TERMINAL

5 years ago

UK port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP) and Swedish ferry operator, Stena Line, have confirmed a joint venture to develop a new terminal at the Port of Immingham, in the Humber region of the UK. The £100 million (US$135.6 million) deal will see Stena Line operate the new facility for a 50-year period.

ABP, port owner and landlord in Immingham, has submitted an application to the UK Secretary of State for Transport for a Development Consent Order by the Summer of 2022, with a view to the terminal becoming operational during 2025.

This news follows on from Stena Line relocating its Rotterdam freight service to the Port of Immingham.

The project entails the relocation of Stena Line’s existing Immingham cargo operation to a new site adjacent to Immingham Outer Harbour, where ABP will commit to constructing the purpose-built facility.

Stena Line has stated that it needs to develop additional capacity and expand its Immingham operation for the longer-term. The planned new terminal will be on the main Humber Estuary and allow the introduction of larger vessels, thereby raising vessel capacity.

Niclas Martensson, Chief Executive Officer, Stena Line, explains: “We are very pleased to announce that we will now take the next steps in the strategic vision for our routes between the UK and Continental Europe. Our freight levels are at record levels and are continuing to increase, so we want to build on this success and provide additional services with the development of a brand new terminal and berths at the Port of Immingham.”

Stena Line is one of the world’s largest ferry operators, It currently offers 18 routes, using 37 vessels and connecting 13 countries across Northern Europe. There are four daily freight services from the Humber to The Netherlands and for 2021 the company confirmed its North Sea routes moved record levels of cargo, which included a 28 per cent year-on-year increase in unaccompanied freight.

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