The Orkney floating container terminal alternative

A recent seminar held in London outlined the Floating Container Storage & Transhipment Terminal (FCST). The first of its kind, the initial FCST is expected to operate at Scapa Flow in Orkney, Scotland although FCST’s are envisaged as a low cost port option suitable for many locations.

Behind FCST is a public-private consortium comprising the Orkney Harbour Authority and marine services company Orcades Marine Management which are supported by development agency Highlands & Islands Enterprise, and specialist industry partners.

Situated at the entrance to the North Sea, Scapa Flow offers zero deviation for mainline ships already passing through the Pentland Firth channel on transatlantic services. Scapa Flow is also closer to most of the feeder ports in UK, Ireland, Norway and Iceland, which will in turn help to reduce feeder costs. Moreover, Baltic feeder markets can be served avoiding Kiel Canal fees, delays or ship size constraints. Interlining and relay are further options with mainline ships heading for Canada, US East Coast, US Gulf Coast, Caribbean etc. able to transfer containers between them at Scapa Flow.