Peel Ports Pulls Out all the Stops

Operations team docks crucial bulk steel vessel at Port of Liverpool container terminal in order to overcome weather delays and provide an innovative customer-centric solution, which brings added value to customer supply chain.
 

Peel Ports are never one to complain about gloomy weather, staying true to their values of being more than just a port; the owner and operator of the Port of Liverpool demonstrated innovative thinking and flexibility to solve challenges by taking on the elements.

The M V Elytis was sailing towards the Port of Liverpool, carrying a crucial consignment of steel wire coils as hurricane-force winds swept through the North-West. The storms caused a backlog of vessels, filling the port’s steel berths, understanding that any delay to the delivery would cause financial and logistical problems for Hy-Ten a local manufacturer, Peel Ports rose to the challenge to find a solution for their customer.

 

Fully aware that Hy-Ten was under a tight schedule to receive its goods the operations team came up with an innovative solution; allowing the Elytis to dock at the Royal Seaforth Container Terminal (RSCT). Prior to the construction of a dedicated steel terminal, wire-coils were discharged at the container terminal. The last steel ship to do so was the M V China Progress in 1998.

The highly trained staff at RSCT unloaded the vessel within 18 hours meeting the customer service requirements of this valued business partner. This expertise and knowledge combined with flexibility and customer commitment is what makes Peel Ports more than just a network of ports.

During the past year steel volumes at Peel Ports Liverpool have increased by 35% as a result of their flexible services which are based on an understanding of their customer’s needs.

Bootle-based Hy-Ten, a specialist in manufacturing products for the UK construction industry, has been using Port of Liverpool 2012. Since then the manufacturer has brought in 30,000 tonnes of steel products from Europe and Asia, accounting for a significant percentage of steel volume through the terminal.

Adrian Larkins, Chairman at Hy-Ten said: “Using the Port of Liverpool to transport our steel has allowed us to reduce both our costs and carbon footprint, and we are delighted with the customer service they have given us.

“Peel Ports have helped us avoid hefty delay penalty charges that we could have incurred if the weather had caused us delays. The Port of Liverpool has demonstrated a genuine commitment to support our business.”

Peel Ports Group works with Hy-Ten to offer them shipping and logistics solutions which streamline the manufacturer’s supply chain, taking advantage of the Port of Liverpool’s central location and close proximity to Hy-Ten’s Bootle manufacturing facility.

Hy-Ten has shipped over 30,000 tonnes of steel through the Port of Liverpool since 2012, providing steel based products for a number of significant industries in the local area and across the UK. Hy-Ten employs 60 people from the local area.

Roy Merryweather, Business Development Manager at Peel Ports Group, said: “Our customers are our most important asset and everything we do as a Group is focused on creating solutions which deliver added value to their supply chains.

“A lot of the time this involves going above and beyond the expected, creating last minute solutions to logistics challenges which utilise the expertise and assets of the Group as a whole to ensure minimal disruption to customer supply chains.

“Using the container terminal to dispatch a steel ship for Hy-Ten is just one such case which highlights the forward thinking and commitment of the team to support local businesses by offering efficient port and shipping solutions.”

Peel Ports’ steel handling facility at the Port of Liverpool is the most advanced of its kind in Europe and since launching in April 2013 it has transformed its steel handling operations and supply chain efficiency for its customers.

The improved efficiency of the steel facility has seen a 35% increase in steel coming through the Port of Liverpool in the last financial year – making it the most efficient port hub for steel traders. As well as bringing added value to customer supply chains, the facility is also strategically located to the UK’s manufacturing base.