ABP’s Port of Ipswich welcomed the Arklow Beacon on its maiden voyage from a ship yard in the Netherlands.
The cargo ship picked up 7, 000 tonnes of wheat from the region’s farmers en-route to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
ABP Ipswich Deputy Port Manager Roger Arundale presented Captain Robert Bijsterveld with a ships decanter to commemorate the occasion.
Roger said “The Port of Ipswich is a vital route to overseas markets for the regions farmers and that’s why the arrival of the Arklow Beacon is so welcome. She represents a major investment in the grain export sector and is a vote of confidence in its bright future. I was proud to welcome her on behalf of the port and the city.”
Ipswich is the UK’s busiest grain export port, handling around 1, 000, 000 tonnes of cereals each year. Ipswich generates £122 million for the regional economy and supports more than 1, 800 local jobs.
About ABP
ABP is the UK’s leading ports operator with 21 ports and other transport related businesses creating a unique national network capable of handling a vast array of cargo.
Around one quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade passes through ABP’s Statutory Harbour Areas. ABP contributes £5.6 billion to the UK economy every year and supports 84, 000 jobs. Our current investment programme promises to deliver an extra £1.75 billion for the economy every year.
ABP…
· Handled over 1.5 million vehicles in 2013
· Generates around one quarter of the UK’s rail freight
· Has 1.4 million square metres of covered storage
· Has 1, 000 hectares of open storage
· Handled 119m tonnes of cargo in 2013
· Owns 5, 000 hectares of port estate
· Has 87km of quay
Over the next five years, ABP is investing over £650 million in a wide range of major projects across the group.
“Jo”
