LONDON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The operators of the Port of Liverpool, one of Britain's major seaports, announced Monday it is to start work on the second phase of its expansion program at its container terminal on the River Mersey.
Peel Ports Group is to invest in equipment and port infrastructure works to expand the terminal known as Liverpool 2, and will introduce further leading-edge port technology solutions.
The latest phase will include the installation of a further three ship to shore cranes and 10 cantilever rail mounted gantry cranes to be built by Shanghai-based ZPMC as part of a multi-million dollar order.
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) is a heavy-duty equipment manufacturer, and a state holding company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Peel Ports said it will mean the terminal, already one of the world's most modern shipping facilities, having the capacity to manage the unloading of two 380 meter vessels simultaneously.
There will also be additional reefer points installed to allow the terminal to handle even greater quantities of refrigerated containers at the Port of Liverpool.
Launched in November 2016, Liverpool 2 represents a 523-million-U.S.-dollar investment to provide a state-of-the-art ocean gateway for international trade to and from Britain.
A spokesman for Peel Ports said: "The deep water facility is capable of accommodating the world's largest container vessels and connects road, rail and canal networks linking directly to the heart of the British mainland, accessing a catchment of over 35 million people, almost 58 percent of the UK's population."
Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Ports said: "This is an important step in the development of Liverpool 2 and reflects our confidence and our long term commitment to positioning the North of England as a competitive route to international markets and a major port for global trade."
"The development of the project program is now well underway. We anticipate a completion date for Phase 2 in 2019," he stated.
