Liverpool2
{{Short description|Container terminal on the River Mersey, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}{{Infobox docks
| name = Liverpool2
| image = Liverpool2, 09-2020.jpg
| imagesize = 320px
| caption = Liverpool2 as seen from Seacombe in September 2020.
| location = Seaforth, Sefton, United Kingdom
| coordinates = {{coord|53.453|-3.023|display=inline, title|region:GB_scale:8000}}
| grid_ref_UK = SJ321956
| opened = {{Start date|2016|11|04|df=y}}{{cite news|last=Houghton |first=Alistair |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/exclusive-look-stunning-views-port-12121978 |title=Look at these stunning views from Port of Liverpool's massive new cranes |publisher=Liverpool Echo |date=3 November 2016 |accessdate=3 November 2016}}
| owner = The Peel Group
| operator = Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
| type = Wharf
| purpose = Cargo transfer
| min_depth = {{convert|16.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.investsefton.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/L2-Newsletter-Issue-2-Interactive1-peelports.pdf|title=Liverpool2 News|work=Peel Ports Group|issue=2|year=2014|accessdate=4 November 2016}}
| quay_length = {{convert|850|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| cranes = {{ubl|8 container cranes, 22 CRMG cranes (in use)}}
| cargo_type = {{ubl|Container}}
| transport_links = {{ubl|A565|A5036 (road)|Canada Dock branch (rail)}}
}}
Liverpool2 is a container terminal extension adjoining the River Mersey in Seaforth, Merseyside. The extension, built by Peel Ports, officially opened on 4 November 2016 and is an expansion of the Seaforth Dock container terminal.
Development
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 6 June 2013, with Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Kenny Dalglish present at the event.{{cite news|url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/peel_ports_kick_off_liverpool2_project|title=Peel Ports kick-off Liverpool2 project|work=Port Technology|date=6 June 2013|accessdate=5 November 2016}} The emplacement of steel pilings commenced from October 2013 utilising 329 piles, weighing 47 tonnes each.{{cite news|url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/liverpool2_construction_enters_key_steel_piling_phase|title=Liverpool2 construction enters key steel piling phase|work=Port Technology|date=15 October 2013|accessdate=5 November 2016}} In total, 19,000 tonnes of metalwork was used to form a {{convert|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}-high, and {{convert|854|m|ft|abbr=on}}-long, quay wall.
By July 2014, dredging of a {{convert|27|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} area of the River Mersey approach channel had been commenced by Van Oord.{{cite news|url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/dredging_commences_at_liverpool2|title=Dredging commences at Liverpool2|work=Port Technology|date=16 July 2014|accessdate=5 November 2016}} The extension was built on reclaimed land using the material dredged from the River Mersey,{{cite news|url=https://www.vesselfinder.com/news/7677-Official-Opening-Of-Peel-Ports-400-Mln-Liverpool-Container-Terminal-Video|title=Official Opening Of Peel Ports £400 Mln Liverpool Container Terminal (Video)|work=Vessel Finder|first=Svetlana|last=Modeva|date=4 November 2016|accessdate=5 November 2016}} with the deepened approach channel providing the necessary clearance for visiting ships.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/35m-boost-liverpool2-superport-docks-4024672|title=£35m boost for Liverpool2 superport docks dredging programme|work=Liverpool Echo|first=John|last=Siddle|date=28 May 2013|accessdate=5 November 2016}} Construction was delayed by 60 days during winter storms in 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/liverpool2-gearing-up-summer-opening-11111817|title=Liverpool2 gearing up for summer opening amid 'significant' industry interest|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Neil|last=Hodgson|date=31 March 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}} 5.5m tonnes of material was dredged, involving a workforce of 440 specialists.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/liverpool2-schedule-prepares-return-worlds-9707038|title=Liverpool2 on schedule as it prepares for the return of the world's biggest ships to the Mersey|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Neil|last=Hodgson|date=23 July 2015|accessdate=4 November 2016}}
The first five ZPMC-built Megamax ship-to-shore cranes were all on the quayside by November 2015, having been delivered from Shanghai, with eight of these cranes ultimately planned for the site.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/peel-ports-offloads-fifth-final-10485144|title=Peel Ports offloads fifth and final Megamax crane at Liverpool2|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Neil|last=Hodgson|date=23 November 2015|accessdate=4 November 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/mersey_liverpool2_development_get_crmgs|title=Mersey Liverpool2 Development Get CRMGs|work=Port Technology|date=11 October 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/liverpool2_receives_megamax_cranes|title=Liverpool2 Receives 'MegaMax' Cranes|work=Port Technology|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=4 November 2016}} The first five cranes were delivered by the ship {{Interlanguage link|Zhen Hua 23|de|3=Zhen Hua 23|lt=Zhen Hua 23}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.worldcargonews.com/htm/w20151104.534718.htm|title=New cranes arrive in Liverpool|work=World Cargo News|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=5 November 2016}} The intended opening date of December 2015 was missed, being moved to the summer of 2016, and ultimately rescheduled for the autumn.{{cite news|url=http://www.portstrategy.com/news101/world/europe/liverpool2-gears-up-for-autumn-opening|title=Liverpool2 gears up for autumn opening|work=Port Strategy|date=19 May 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}} A first batch of six ZPMC-built cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes were delivered to the site in May 2016,{{cite web|url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/peel_ports_receives_liverpool2_crane_order|title=Peel Ports Receives Huge Liverpool2 Crane Order|work=Port Technology|date=3 May 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}} arriving from Nantong aboard the ship Zhen Hua 25.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk/article.aspx/show/7062|title=CRMG cranes arrive in Mersey for Liverpool2 development|work=Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce|date=3 May 2016|accessdate=5 November 2016}} Berthing trials began in June 2016, with MSC vessels participating in the procedures throughout the following months.{{cite news|url=http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/liverpool2-undergoes-trials-ahead-of-full-opening|title=Liverpool2 undergoes trials ahead of full opening|work=Insider Media Limited|date=29 June 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}} A further six gantry cranes were added in October 2016; these being delivered by the ship Zhen Hua 8, also from Nantong.{{cite news|url=http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/six-giant-cranes-arrive-for-liverpool2|title=Six giant cranes arrive for Liverpool2|work=Insider Media Limited|date=12 October 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}} The extension was built at a cost of £400m and ultimately opened on 4 November 2016 by Liam Fox, the Secretary of State for International Trade.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-37866804|title=Liverpool's new £400m container terminal opens|work=BBC News|date=4 November 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}}
=Phase two=
Phase two of the development included three more ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and an additional ten gantry cranes. After being completed, the site is served by 8 Megamax cranes and 22 cantilever rail-mounted gantry (CRMG) cranes.{{cite web|title=Liverpool2 to feature Chinese Megamax cranes|date=8 August 2014 |url=http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/133492/liverpool2-to-feature-chinese-megamax-cranes/|publisher=World Maritime News|accessdate=4 November 2016}} This allows a capacity of 1m TEU per year for the site.{{cite news|url=https://www.railfreight.com/corridors/2016/11/10/rail-terminal-part-of-liverpool-expansion/|title=Rail terminal part of Liverpool expansion|work=Railfreight.com|date=10 November 2016|accessdate=7 March 2021}} Peel Ports announced in July 2017 that it was proceeding with the expansion and that planning work had started to bring the remaining three Megamax and ten CRMG cranes to the port. The work also involved the installation of additional reefer points to allow the port to handle a greater quantity of refrigerated containers.{{cite web|title=Peel Ports starts second phase of Liverpool2 expansion|url=http://www.businesscloud.co.uk/news/peel-ports-starts-second-phase-of-liverpool2-expansion|website=Business Cloud|date=17 July 2017 |accessdate=18 July 2017|language=en}} Peel announced in September 2019 that the new STS cranes were expected to arrive in November 2019 with all of the work being completed in summer 2021.{{cite news |last1=McDonough |first1=Tony |title=Peel begins multi-million pound expansion of Liverpool2 port terminal |url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/peel-begins-multi-million-pound-expansion-liverpool2-port-facility/ |accessdate=26 September 2019 |work=Liverpool Business News |date=19 September 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://afloat.ie/port-news/port-and-shipping-news/item/48991-uk-s-liverpool2-400-million-expansion-nears-the-next-phase-of-completion-12-noon-posting|title='Liverpool2' Container Terminal's £400m Expansion Nears Next Phase of Completion|work=Afloat.ie|first=Jehan|last=Ashmore|date=12 January 2021|accessdate=6 March 2021}}
An upgrade to the Canada Dock Branch rail line was announced in May 2016 that would allow up to 48 trains a day to visit the port. Upgrade of the line was expected to be complete by 2019.{{cite news|url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/rail-upgrades-promised-as-part-of-port-of-liverpool-developments|title=Rail upgrades promised as part of Port of Liverpool developments|work=Rail Technology Magazine|date=16 May 2016|accessdate=27 June 2016}}
Operation
The terminal extension is able to accommodate two 13,500 TEU New-Panamax vessels simultaneously,{{cite web|title=A New Deep Water Container Terminal|url=http://peelports.com/liverpool2/about/liverpool2-vision/a-new-deep-water-container-terminal|publisher=Peel Ports|accessdate=1 August 2014}}{{cite web|title=Liverpool 2 - Fast Facts|url=http://peelports.com/liverpool2/about/fast-facts|publisher=Peel Ports|accessdate=3 August 2014|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101060521/http://peelports.com/liverpool2/about/fast-facts|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lloydslist.com/ll/sector/ports-and-logistics/article537569.ece|title=Peel Ports plans lavish official opening party for Liverpool2|work=Lloyd's List|date=22 September 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}} the maximum size that can transit the Panama Canal.http://www.pancanal.com/eng/maritime/notices/n01-05.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228060814/https://www.pancanal.com/eng/maritime/notices/n01-05.pdf |date=28 December 2021 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} As of 2016, the site is served by five Megamax cranes and twelve cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes, completing phase one of the development.{{cite news|url=http://container-mag.com/2014/04/23/30-zpmc-cranes-for-liverpool2/|title=30 ZPMC cranes for Liverpool2|work=Container Management|date=23 April 2014|accessdate=5 November 2016}} On opening, the gantry cranes were remotely operated from a logistics building {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} away, later{{when|date=August 2024}} being operated from a control room at the terminal.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} The terminal has also gained the most advanced quayside to HGV automated transfer technology in Europe.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/peel-ports-20m-autogate-investment-10905016|title=Peel Ports' £20m autogate investment will increase capacity at Liverpool2|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Neil|last=Hodgson|date=18 February 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}}
In March 2020, the terminal received its single biggest delivery to date, unloading 5,452 TEUs from MSC Federica;{{cite news|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/liverpool2-records-largest-container-delivery/|title=Liverpool2 records largest container delivery|work=Place North West|date=2 April 2020|accessdate=6 March 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/liverpool2-handles-record-breaking-number-containers/|title=Liverpool2 handles record-breaking number of containers|work=Liverpool Business News|first=Tony|last=McDonough|date=3 April 2020|accessdate=7 March 2021}} a record which was improved upon in December 2020, with a delivery of 5,956 TEUs by MSC Tamara.{{cite news|url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/port-liverpool-smashes-record-number-containers/|title=Port of Liverpool smashes record for number of containers|work=Liverpool Business News|first=Tony|last=McDonough|date=14 December 2020|accessdate=7 March 2021}} In October 2020, OOCL made Liverpool2 one of the permanent calling points for its trade between Europe and Canada.{{cite news|url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/global-shipping-giant-chooses-liverpool2/|title=Global shipping giant chooses Liverpool2|work=Liverpool Business News|first=Tony|last=McDonough|date=3 October 2020|accessdate=6 March 2021}} Two months later, Maersk and MSC chose to change from using the Port of Felixstowe for their TA2 transatlantic shipping service, in favour of Liverpool2.{{cite news|url=https://theloadstar.com/maersk-and-msc-drop-felixstowe-from-transatlantic-service-and-head-for-liverpool/|title=Maersk and MSC drop Felixstowe from transatlantic service and head for Liverpool|work=The Loadstar|first=Mike|last=Wackett|date=7 December 2020|accessdate=6 March 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.heavyliftnews.com/new-deep-water-terminal-liverpool2-opens-for-maersk-and-msc-ta2-transatlantic-service/|title=New Deep Water Terminal Liverpool2 Opens for Maersk and MSC TA2 Transatlantic Service|work=HeavyLiftNews|date=4 January 2021|accessdate=6 March 2021}} Around the same time, MSC launched a partnership with GB Railfreight to operate a five-days-a-week rail service between Liverpool2 and the East Midlands.{{cite news|url=https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2020/12/07/new-intermodal-flow-connects-liverpool-with-east-midlands/|title=New intermodal flow connects Liverpool with East Midlands|work=Railfreight.com|first=Simon|last=Walton|date=7 December 2020|accessdate=7 March 2021}}
Future
Consideration has also been given for improved road access to the terminal, from the M57 motorway junction at Switch Island, in order to ease the expected HGV congestion.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/calls-tunnel-link-liverpool2-terminal-11651359|title=Calls for tunnel link from Liverpool2 terminal to Switch Island to ease lorry congestion|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Luke|last=Traynor|date=22 July 2016|accessdate=4 November 2016}}
Gallery
File:Liverpool2 Container Terminal.jpg|Liverpool2 under construction, July 2016
File:Liverpool2 container Terminal 2019.jpg|The container terminal seen from the River Mersey
File:Liverpool2 Container Terminal - August 2021.jpg|Liverpool2 in operation, August 2021
File:MSC Federica (IMO 8715869) Liverpool 2019.jpg|MSC Federica at Liverpool2 in 2019
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category|Liverpool2}}
- {{cite web|title=Liverpool 2|url=http://peelports.com/liverpool2|publisher=Peel Ports|accessdate=3 August 2014}}
{{Port of Liverpool docks}}