Latest news with #PhilHall
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Stena Line invests £17m to futureproof sea routes linking England and Ireland
STENA LINE has announced a £17m investment at a Liverpool port which operates busy sea routes between England and Ireland. The Swedish ferry company's investment will support developments at the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead to futureproof the operations by increasing freight parking capacity and improving traffic flow. In February 2024, Stena Line launched a new Liverpool – Dublin freight only service, which has brought a significant increase in freight traffic through the terminal. Pictured at 12 Quays Birkenhead are (l-r) Andrew Darnell, head of RoRo, Peel Ports; Ita Baird, port manager, Stena Line; Andrew Kane, regional port operations manager Irish Sea North, Stena Line; Christian Grossie, regional port development manager, Stena Line and Phil Hall, port director Mersey, Peel Ports. To support the increase the firm has already created an additional 200 freight parking spaces, which has boosted capacity for unaccompanied freight in the port by almost 30 per cent. 'Last year was a record year for Stena Line in Birkenhead with over 315,000 freight units moving through the port, an increase of 20 per cent year on year,' the firm said. 'The expansion will significantly improve operational efficiency and customer experience with more space for freight customers to drop unaccompanied trailers,' they added. The next phase of the project will be a reconfiguration of the front of house operations to improve health and safety and traffic flow to ease congestion. Stena Line currently operates two routes from the 12 Quays Terminal, the Liverpool – Dublin and the Liverpool – Belfast route, which is a popular service for travel and freight alike. In 2021 and 2022, the company invested in two state-of-the-art E-Flexer vessels, Stena Edda and Stena Embla. Since the introduction of the two ships, travel volumes have doubled. Stena Forwarder also operates a freight only service with one round trip per day to Belfast and Bore Song operates one round trip to Dublin each day. 'The significant growth of our services through 12 Quays in Birkenhead has created operational challenges with an increase in unaccompanied freight and traffic build up,' Andrew Kane, Regional Port Operations Manager, Stena Line said. 'With the potential for further growth, we are futureproofing the port with 200 additional freight parking spaces to ensure that we can facilitate our customers' needs and we are sure this expansion will be welcomed by the market,' he added. 'The reconfiguration of the lanes and car parking at the entrance to the port will also improve traffic flow, operational efficiency and health and safety for our customers and staff. 'We're delighted to open our new freight parking facilities and we expect the remainder of the project to be completed by early next year.' Phil Hall, Port Director Mersey at Peel Ports Group, said: the ongoing enhancements at the 12 Quays Terminal are 'improving facilities to support continued growth, ensuring that both passenger and freight customers enjoy the highest level of service'. 'The strong partnership between Peel Ports Group and Stena Line reflects a shared commitment to sustainably developing the Liverpool to Dublin and Belfast routes for the future,' he added. See More: Birkenhead, England, Ireland, Liverpool, Stena Line
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Heysham: £10m investment plan for container and passenger port
A £10m investment will "future-proof" a key port which links Lancashire, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man, its operator has Ports Group, the UK's second largest port operator, claimed its "substantial investment" would boost Heysham's operations and work is also intended to create additional capacity at the Lancashire said the work would begin in coming weeks. The operator said the investment would benefit all operators at Heysham Port, "with Isle of Man Steam Packet, CLDN and Stena Line all set to gain from improved efficiency, increased capacity and enhanced terminal operations".It said extra space created by reconfiguring the site's trailer park would accommodate future growth, including Stena Line's deployment of two new-build "NewMax" ferries at the port, which will boost freight capacity by 40% compared to previous said the new gate operating system would result in a "better experience for hauliers by improving reliability, reducing congestion, [and] creating additional space". 'Additional traffic' The new terminal operating system is designed to make it easier for arriving hauliers to identify trailers at the group's Mersey ports director Phil Hall said the investment was "hugely positive news for Heysham Port and the local community". He added: "We believe this work will future-proof our operations here for decades to come."Stena Line's regional trade director Paul Grant said: "With the first of our new hybrid ships due to begin on the route later this year, the improved efficiency and extra space at the terminal will help facilitate the additional traffic and ensure a reliable service for our customers."Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's managing director Brian Thomson added: "This investment is a significant step forward for the port, enhancing efficiency and capacity for all users." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Person arrested during police operation in Penrith town centre
A person in Penrith was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis, and drug driving during a police operation. Officers from the Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) were out in Penrith town centre on Friday evening, February 14, alongside Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and the DVSA, as part of an operation to educate drivers and target anti-social driving. As part of the operation, officers and partners were stopping drivers passing through the town centre to conduct vehicle checks. Any drivers found to be committing any driving offences were given prohibition notices by Driving Standards and were given advice around safe driving. Officers carried out patrols in areas in the town identified as hotspots for anti-social driving. No further issues were identified; however, officers will continue to patrol hotspot areas for anti-social driving activity as part of Operation Enhance and will be out on Penrith's streets to identify any suspects who continue to commit anti-social driving offences. Sergeant Phil Hall, Eden NPT, said: "This operation was all about educating drivers around the risks of not maintaining their vehicles. "During the night, four prohibition notices were handed out to drivers for issues with their tyres, exhausts and airbags. "It is a driver's responsibility to make sure their vehicles are safe and legal to drive." Sgt Hall continued: "Residents in Penrith have reported concerns regarding the dangers that nuisance drivers pose to other road users and pedestrians. "Our officers remain vigilant, and anyone caught committing these offences will be challenged and could face arrest or having their vehicle seized." David Allen, Cumbria's police, fire and crime commissioner, said: "It's vital that we keep our vehicles maintained so that we can keep not only ourselves safe but also other road users and pedestrians safe. "Partnership working is necessary to continually improve the safety of our county so I'm incredibly pleased to see Police, Fire and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency work together to stop vehicles in Penrith and check that they are suitable for the road. "I was also pleased to see that we were able to stop someone driving under the influence of drugs - Cumbria Constabulary has a zero-tolerance policy against driving under the influence and these pro-active stops clearly highlight that if you drive under the influence of drugs, alcohol or any other illegal substance, you will be caught. "I would urge all drivers in Cumbria to check their vehicles to ensure that they are road safe – if you are unsure, most garages will provide a check for you as part of a service. "It is a community effort to keep our county safe so let's work together and protect Cumbria's roads."
