Stena Line Invests £200m In New Scottish Port
Released
on: February 15, 2010, 7:59 am
Author:
Stena Line
Industry: Travel
Stena Line has announced investment details of approximately£200m in a new ferry port facility at Loch Ryan in Scotland. A 28 acre
site two miles north of Cairnryan has been chosen to locate the
facility which will be constructed to accommodate a mix of travel and
freight customers all year round. The investment also includes the
addition of two large modern ferries when the port becomes fully
operational on its Irish Sea service to Belfast Port.
Construction work at the new port is anticipated to take approximately 20 months,
creating over 900 jobs, and will be completed by autumn 2011. A Harbour Empowerment
Order (HEO) to allow the creation of the new port has just been approved by the
Scottish Parliament. The new port facility represents the first in a number of
projects across Scotland which have been assigned National Project status by the
Scottish Government and will half the time it currently takes to turn vessels
around.
Speaking at the announcement hosted by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, Dan
Sten Olsson, Chairman of Stena Line outlined the importance of the development to
the future prosperity of Scotland. He said: "Today is a historic day for the
people of Scotland and indeed Northern Ireland. The investment we have announced
will provide Scotland with a first class port facility which underlines and enhances
the port's prominence as the third largest gateway in the UK. The link between
Scotland and Northern Ireland provides a huge number of benefits for both countries.
Tourism and freight business between Scotland and Northern Ireland has seen
significant growth in recent years and despite the current difficult trading
conditions, we are confident that an investment of this magnitude will pay dividends
over the medium to long term. We believe that working in partnership with the
Scottish Government and their counterparts in Northern Ireland we will have
state-of-the-art facilities that everyone can be proud of."
Speaking at the announcement, First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This new
development will safeguard and create 1,400 jobs and trigger significant investment
in Dumfries and Galloway. I am delighted to welcome the decision to approve this
project and Stena Line's commitment and continuing contribution to the Scottish
economy. The relocation of the port to the new Loch Ryan Port will also aid tourism
with faster ferry crossings between Scotland and Northern Ireland and help the
regeneration of Stranraer as a major marine leisure area. This is a significant day
for transport and investment in Scotland, and today's announcements highlight the
Scottish Government's continued commitment to working with investors to support
jobs and the economy and to keep Scotland moving."
In 2008, Stena Line opened a new £37m port facility in Belfast harbour, which First
Minister Salmond attended. Stena Line is the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea offering the biggest fleet and
route choice between Britain and Ireland. Routes between Britain and Ireland for travel and freight customers include
Stranraer -Belfast, Fleetwood-Larne, Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire/Dublin Port and
Fishguard-Rosslare.
Notes to Editors:
About Stena Line:
Stena Line is the Irish Sea ferries market leader, offering the
biggest ferry fleet and the widest choice of ferry crossing routes between Britain and Ireland, including
Stranraer to Belfast, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire and Dublin Port, Fishguard to
Rosslare and Fleetwood to Larne. The company carries over three million passengers
on its Irish Sea routes each year, more than its rival operators combined.
Stena Line PR Contact:
Nigel Tilson
UK Communications Manager
Victoria Terminal 4
West Bank Road
Belfast BT3 9JL
075 0146 2677
www.stenaline.co.uk