5000 more ground slots for Liverpool’s container terminal

Expansion of the terminal’s capacity comes on the back of strong growth, and an immediate pay-off from the recent £1.1m (US$1.7m) investment in operational IT investment which has led to a 30% improvement in vehicle turnaround times.

David Huck, head of port operations at the Port of Liverpool said: “Already 2010 has seen significant advances in our productivity, and we are growing accordingly. We have increased our stacking area by some 22%, and by the end of October we will have on stream an additional 5,000 ground slots. The coming months will see the Port delivering further increased operating capacity, integrated landside and shipside operations and the second phase of our Vehicle Booking System (SMART VBS).”

According to the company Liverpool now records the fastest turnaround times of any UK port with 95% of truck drivers processed though the Port within an hour, and 65% within 30 minutes. The Port’s long-term investment plan will deliver increased capacity in phases over the next 18 months along with the new post-Panamax terminal, which will be operational in 2014.