UK ports owner splashes out on a £350m upgrade ahead of Brexit and the return of cruises
- Associated British Ports (ABP) has spent £250m on improving infrastructure
- Another £50m has been spent on overhauling the firm’s container terminals
- And ABP is splashing out £50m on a cruise ship terminal in Southampton
The owner of Southampton and Plymouth ports has ploughed £350m into upgrades
The owner of Southampton and Plymouth ports has ploughed £350 million into upgrades of its facilities as it prepares for Brexit and the return of cruises.
Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns 21 sites across the UK, has spent £250 million on improving infrastructure in areas such as Hull and Immingham ahead of an expected surge in activity when Britain leaves the EU.
Another £50 million has been spent on overhauling the firm’s container terminals along the Humber. And ABP is splashing out £50 million on a cruise ship terminal in Southampton (pictured with the Queen Mary 2 leaving port).
Chief executive Henrik Pedersen said the Brexit preparations were designed to reduce over-reliance on the ‘bottleneck’ between Dover and Calais when new customs checks are introduced next year.
As part of this, he said ports along the Humber were well-positioned to take some of the strain from their southern counterparts.
But he urged ministers to press ahead with investment in new border control posts worth £200 million, which are needed to help customs checks proceed more smoothly.