Major investment in Grangemouth capacity

Forth Ports chief executive Charles Hammond. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

The investment is for “significant surface upgrading works” covering an area of 6,325 square metres at Scotland’s biggest container port.

Forth Ports said the development would increase the container terminal’s capacity to 12,000 TEUs – the industry standard container size of twenty foot equivalent units.

It will mean a 50 per cent increase in capacity since 2005, and the company said it would make both its landside and shipside operations more efficient.

Charles Hammond, group chief executive of Forth Ports, said: “This is an important investment for the business which will further secure Grangemouth’s position as Scotland’s largest container terminal. We have analysed the shipping trends and identified the growing demand to accommodate larger vessels from around the world.

“Through this investment, we will ensure that (Grangemouth) remains front and centre for Scotland’s importers and exporters.”

The work includes the building of a heavy-duty concrete pavement, creating extra storage lanes for laden containers.