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Osborne digs deep for Liverpool

[ May 28, 2013   //   Chris ]

Chancellor George Osborne announced a grant of £35 million from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund to dredge the approach channel in the Mersey Estuary during a visit to the city on 28 May. Deepening the approach channel to 16 metres it will allow access for post-Panamax size container ships and widen the tidal access window for other river users.

He described it as “good news for Merseyside and the North West, but also important to the UK as a whole. As well as creating 5,000 jobs, upgrading Merseyside’s maritime infrastructure demonstrates that this country is open for business, and ready to compete in the global race.”

Chief Executive of Peel Ports Group – parent company of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company – Mark Whitworth, said the grant will support the region’s maritime economy and help expand the Port of Liverpool with the new £300m container terminal Liverpool2.

Ian Higby, chairman of the Mersey Maritime Group and managing director of Atlantic Container Line which operates services to North America out of the Port of Liverpool added: “This is a fantastic boost for businesses across the region’s maritime sector. Dredging the estuary is essential for growth in the region’s maritime sector.”

Tags: George Osborne, Mersey Estuary, Mersey Maritime Group