Freight News, Logistics, Sea


ABP signs nationwide forces deal

[ January 14, 2025   //   ]

Associated British Ports (ABP) has signed a new agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to boost the Armed Forces’ sea capability.

It will give the Forces access to ABP ports across the UK for loading and unloading of military hardware from vessels at no additional cost to the original contract which covered only the Port of Marchwood near Southampton.

Under a deal signed in 2016, the former Marchwood dedicated military port was let to commerce on a 35-year lease, with the MOD as a lead customer. This allowed the MOD to retain a shipping capability, but de-risk the infrastructure maintenance costs of a large and complex site. The MOD also receives a share of commercial revenue generated at the port.

ABP is investing £100 million in infrastructure at Marchwood, including jetty improvement works to significantly increase the capability of the port both for defence and commercial activities, and to allow the world’s largest car carrying ships to dock.

As well as Marchwood, ABP Barrow is fundamental to the UK’s submarine building programme while other ports, such as Cardiff, Southampton and Hull frequently host naval vessels from the UK and NATO allies.

ABP chief executive Henrik Pedersen, said: “ABP is confident it will increase the resilience and capacity of the MOD’s sea mounting capability for the most demanding scenarios, whilst driving greater cost-effectiveness into routine deployments. We look forward to deepening our relationship with the Armed Forces and the strategic defence sector across the UK.”

MOD’s chief of defence logistics and support, Vice Admiral Andy Kyte added “This new arrangement greatly boosts the resilience, efficiency and agility of Defence’s Sea Mounting Capability through access to ABP’s national port estate. The relationship with ABP forms a key component of the UK Strategic Base.”

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