Maritime Transport UK, the integrated rail and road logistics operator, has completed the development of a new intermodal container storage terminal at the Port of Liverpool. The facility has been opened in collaboration with Peel Ports, the managers of the port on the River Mersey, England. Maritime say the facility will allow them to more efficiently distribute goods from Liverpool into key regional markets, particularly in the North West of England.
The brand new Maritime intermodal facility opened on Monday, 2 September 2024. The headline operational statistics are round-the-clock availability and capacity for up to 2,000 TEU. Maritime stresses that the new facility is more than just hard standing for a thousand containers. They say it offers a full spectrum of storage, handling, and maintenance services, supporting both long and short-term requirements for loaded and empty container storage. The site also features reefer (refrigerated container) plugin points, local delivery support services, and a comprehensive security setup.
Supports Maritime rail operations
The new Liverpool storage facility is not directly served by a rail connection. However, it does support rail operations, and that makes this compound vital to operations overall. With container ships docking at Liverpool, capable of delivering up to ten thousand containers in one cargo, the need for immediate storage is vital. To that end, Maritime has dedicated two of its recently purchased SANY H9 reach stackers for operations at the site, making possible transfer for road or rail.
“We are delighted to open our newest container storage site at the Port of Liverpool, meeting the rising demand for storage options in the area,” said Tom Williams, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Transport. “This expansion increases our capacity and provides new, modern facilities for our drivers and operational teams. It’s an excellent addition to our network that will undoubtedly strengthen our service capabilities and accommodate the growing volume of cargo activity at the Port. Among the recent important developments at the Port of Liverpool have been the announcement of the refurbishment of the Brockelbank Dock to serve Anglo-Irish traffic and the inauguration of an Asia-UK container route, operated by shipping line MSC and designated as its “Britannia” service. It’s operations like that which make container storage and rail connections all the more vital for Liverpool.
Resilience of the UK supply chain
“We’re very pleased to see the completion of Maritime’s purpose-built space at the Port of Liverpool, which is a really positive development for the region that will create additional opportunities for cargo owners and retailers under current economic pressures,” said David Huck, Chief Operating Officer, Peel Ports Group, who manage the Port of Liverpool. “This investment highlights the Port’s strategic importance as a hub for both national and international trade, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Maritime as we work together to support the growth and resilience of the UK’s supply chain.”
Maritime now operates four dedicated container storage sites in Ipswich, Northampton, Liverpool, and Southampton, exceeding 30,000 TEU capacity. Remarkably, that figure represents little more than the single cargo load of the biggest container ships currently at sea. It also represents a full load for more than 300 intermodal trains. As part of the port project at Liverpool, Maritime says it is almost trebling the size of its transport depot to almost five hectares. The company has also recently signed deals to operate several inland intermodal terminals, including an exclusive agreement to develop, lease, and operate the planned £750 million (€880m) strategic rail freight interchange at Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange in the English Midlands.