Atlantic Container Line goes for 15-year contract in UK
The Atlantic Container Line (ACL), which is part of the Neapolitan Grimaldi shipping group, has agreed a new 15-year contract extension for container and roll-on/roll-off operations at the port of Liverpool (UK) until 2035. At this stage, ACL, which celebrated its 50 year-anniversary as a shipping line in 2017, is currently the largest ocean carrier operating at Liverpool’s Royal Seaforth Container Terminal (RSCT) and the port’s longest-serving container carrier.
This new agreement demonstrates ACL’s confidence in the growing volume of transatlantic trade between the UK and North America. Peel Ports Group is investing at RSCT to accommodate ACL’s new fleet of G4 vessels, which are registered in the UK and fly the Red Ensign.
The passage entrance into the Seaforth Basin has been widened by 28 m to allow safe access for the larger G4 vessels into the terminal. In addition, the port is investing in two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes with increased height and reach, adding capacity to the dedicated vehicle storage area to handle ACL’s growing cargo requirements. The overall project expected to be completed during 2021. (fd)