THE biggest ever investment in Greenock Ocean Terminal has been announced with two new cranes to be bought for almost £20m.

Peel Ports say the new infrastructure at 'Scotland’s most important west-facing freight port' will boost productivity.

Bosses added that the investment will help equip the port for the future as it prepares to accommodate increased demand from cargo owners.

Peel Ports has issued a £17m tender for the cranes, in what will be the biggest outlay on the container terminal since it opened in 1969.

As part of the revamp, the current crane number three will be decommissioned.

Peel say it will be replaced in the short term with a multi-docker one that specialises in the handling of forest products.

Once the contract for the new cranes is awarded it’s expected the work will take 18 months to complete.

When the new cranes are in place, the two others currently in place at the terminal will be decommissioned.

Jim McSporran, Clydeport port director, said: “The commission of two new cranes will be significant for Greenock Ocean Terminal and will contribute to the continuing growth seen in recent times.

“This investment also highlights our commitment to ensuring Greenock Ocean Terminal continues to provide an efficient service for our customers.

“Throughout the last two years, we have seen some significant changes in the supply chain and trading patterns due to Covid-19 and Brexit and by investing in our infrastructure, we are ensuring the future of the terminal.

“Greenock Ocean Terminal is a mainstay of the local community and it’s important that we look towards the future and continue to provide job prospects and economic opportunities for local businesses”

The ordering of new cranes at Scotland’s deepest container terminal comes amid the ongoing construction of a purpose-built multi agency Border Control Post there.

This was a requirement to allow all commodities to be imported and exported from the port in the face of changing legislation due to Brexit.

The terminal currently accounts for 60,000 containers per annum, a third of all the containers coming into Scotland.

A project was recently carried out to create additional storage capacity at the terminal for them.

The port is also currently in the middle of a busy cruise ship season, with the number of visits doubling after the pandemic disruption.

A total of 74 liners have been booked into the new dedicated pontoon this year.