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Stena and ABP to open Humber super-hub

[ January 19, 2022   //   ]

Stena Line and Associated British Ports (ABP) have signed an agreement to jointly develop a new freight terminal at the Port of Immingham. Under the £100m deal, the Swedish ferry company will operate the new terminal for the next 50 years.

The proposals outline the relocation of Stena Line’s current Immingham freight operations to a new site, adjacent to Immingham Outer Harbour, where ABP will develop a new purpose built terminal.

ABP intends to submit an application for a Development Consent Order to the Secretary of State for Transport in early summer and for the new terminal facilities to become operational in 2025.

Stena currently runs four daily freight services from the Humber to the Netherlands. It says that demand is greater than ever before and is expected to increase further. Last year North Sea routes moved record levels of freight, including a 28% year-on-year increase in unaccompanied freight.

At the start of 2021 Stena Line relocated its Rotterdam freight service to Immingham. The move has allowed it to become the provider of both the terminal and shipping operations. Stena also maintains a daily ro-pax service from Killingholme (about two miles north of Immingham) to Hook of Holland but the new berth scheme proposal solely relates to the Immingham to Rotterdam Europoort services, said a line spokesman. Stena moved the UK terminal of its Rotterdam (Europoort)-Killingholme service to Immingham from 1 January to handle increased demand for unaccompanied freight.

With freight levels continuing to grow, Stena Line says it needs to add capacity and expand its operations at Immingham, with a long-term solution that has access to the main Humber Estuary. This would give quicker sailing times and the option to use larger vessels.

Stena Line chief executive Niclas Martensson said: “Our freight levels are at record levels and are continuing to increase, so we want to build on this success and provide additional services to our most important business needs, those of our customers, with the development of a brand new terminal and berths at the Port of Immingham. Stena Line is pledging a significant long-term commitment that will bring a substantial boost to the region’s economy in terms of jobs and revenue. We look forward to working with Associated British Ports to develop this exciting project.”
ABP Humber director, Simon Bird, added: “Stena will be joining a growing family of commercial partners who are choosing to use ABP’s ports in the Humber which have fantastic facilities and connections for traders across Europe and beyond. Our track record in recent years of investing in new infrastructure is making the Humber the place to be for trading links between the Midlands and North of England, and the rest of the World.”

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