Wednesday 20 May 2015

The Margarethe Fighter caught on video

The Margarethe Fighter was recently spotted dredging in Newhaven Harbour, as plans for the development of the port into a cruise liner terminal get under way.

The Margarethe Fighter is certainly an impressive vessel – it has a capacity of 425 tons - and Newhaven port is likely to see some imposing ships in the future, following the plans for the terminal there.

Officials have confirmed that there are plans for more dredging, seabed surveys and reviews of local infrastructure and that there will be a “significant” investment in the project.

As well as hosting ocean-going vessels which are stopping in Edinburgh, it’s possible that Newhaven could also become a departure port for turnaround ships taking domestic travellers overseas, which means that facilities will need to be built to house customs, security and luggage handling facilities.

A spokeswoman for Forth Ports said: “We have had a good level of interest from the cruise industry for this new location due to its close proximity to the internationally appealing city of Edinburgh.

“We are currently working with Edinburgh City Council on the potential opportunities at Newhaven
and Forth Ports is looking to significantly invest in this project.”

Newhaven has a maritime history which dates right back to the 1500s, when Scotland’s most iconic ship, when the Great Michael, was launched there.

Watch the video here

Tuesday 12 May 2015

Ports we serve







At t. ward shipping we are experienced in handling consignments of all sizes and types and we offer our services to a wide range of UK ports.

We’ve put together a list of the ports that we serve, along with a list of their specifications, to help you decide on the best option for you. For specialist advice, contact our team and we’ll be happy to provide you with more information.

Leith

Maximum size vessel:
 210m LOA
 30m beam
 9.15m draft.

The Port of Leith is Scotland’s largest enclosed deep water port, with capability to handle ships up to 50,000 DWT.  It’s located to the north east of Edinburgh and offers easy access to the A1, the Edinburgh by-pass, the M8 and M9.  The rail connections are also excellent. Leith offers stevedoring and cargo handling services and is equipped with cranes and equipment, plus secure storage facilities.

Grangemouth

 183m loa (length overall)
 27.5m beam
 11.0m draft (tankers)
 7.75m draft (general cargo)

Grangemouth is the largest container port in Scotland, and handles more than 150,000 containers per year. Situated in between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the port handles over 9 million tonnes of cargo per year and its excellent transport links make it a popular choice for Scottish industry.

Rosyth

     540m loa
 Beam n/a
 Draft - 8.3m

The port of Rosyth enjoys a convenient central location on the north bank of the River Forth, and provides a key gateway to Fife. The port boasts useful access to the M90, the Forth Road Bridge and also to Scotland’s motorways, and is perfect for businesses that want a riverside location with logistical support. The port also has a useful roll on / roll off freight ferry service linking Scotland with mainland Europe.

Babcock, Rosyth:

 Loa – 224m
 Beam - 39m
 Draft – 9.4m

Babcock, Rosyth port is located on the north side of the River Forth about a mile west of the Forth Road Bridge. The port gives access to the non-tidal basin through a conventional lock system and also via a single direct entrance, restricted to high tide transits.

Hunterston

 Inner berth:
 Loa – 380m
 Beam – n/a
 Draft – 23.00

 Outer berth:
 280m loa
 Beam – n/a
 Draft – 23.00m

Hunterston is a bulk terminal deep water port located on Scotland’s west coast which has a dedicated twin head automated rail loading station in addition to a lower rail vehicle loading area that gives easy haulage access to the national motorway network.

We can also help with your shipping requirements for other Firth of Forth and Clyde ports such Methil, Burntisland, Inverkeithing, Glasgow, Ayr and Greenock. For more information on the services we offer, speak to one of our friendly agents.

Tuesday 5 May 2015

Importing through a southern port? You don’t need a southern agent!

If you’re a Scottish business trying to keep your business costs down when you’re importing goods from China and the Far East, it’s natural to assume that saving money on a shipping agent means dealing with an agent close to your chosen port of entry, such as Felixstowe or Thamesport.

This isn’t always the case; in fact you might find that even though your business is based in Scotland and you’re importing goods through Felixstowe, for example, it can work out more economical and convenient to use a shipping agency local to you, such as t ward shipping. It’s actually something of a widely held misconception that it costs less to use an agent close to the port of import, and t ward works with numerous different businesses who chose Thamesport and other southern UK ports for their LCL and FCL cargo shipments.

According to 2012 figures, China is currently one of the UKs main import partners, with only Germany exporting more goods to our shores. China is responsible for 8.2 per cent of goods imported into the UK and the amount of goods coming this way from the Far East is on the rise with enterprising online businesses finding bargains and selling them in the UK.

There has definitely been a surge in small businesses and sole traders who need to import goods from China, for example, to sell on sites such as eBay and Amazon. They need to be able to use a reliable shipping agent with competitive rates, and they come to us for help with their needs – we don’t just work with the big names, we’re happy to assist individuals and small businesses. It can work out cheaper for them to have their goods delivered in the south, but that’s not an issue for us, we have a transport network that efficiently moves cargo all around the UK, and quite often at a much lower cost than you might expect.

If you need to import goods through a port in the south of England, don’t automatically assume it will be easier and cheaper to use an agent locally. Contact t ward shipping for advice and a quote and we’ll see how we can help you.