UK ports owner splashes out on a £350m upgrade ahead of Brexit and the return of cruises

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UK ports owner splashes out on a £350m upgrade ahead of Brexit and the return of cruises

  • Associated British Ports (ABP) has spent £250m on improving infrastructure 
  • Another £50m has been spent on overhauling the firm’s container terminals 
  • And ABP is splashing out £50m on a cruise ship terminal in Southampton 

By City & Finance Reporter for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

The owner of Southampton and Plymouth ports has ploughed £350m into upgrades

The owner of Southampton and Plymouth ports has ploughed £350 million into upgrades of its facilities as it prepares for Brexit and the return of cruises. 

Associated British Ports (ABP), which owns 21 sites across the UK, has spent £250 million on improving infrastructure in areas such as Hull and Immingham ahead of an expected surge in activity when Britain leaves the EU. 

Another £50 million has been spent on overhauling the firm’s container terminals along the Humber. And ABP is splashing out £50 million on a cruise ship terminal in Southampton (pictured with the Queen Mary 2 leaving port). 

Chief executive Henrik Pedersen said the Brexit preparations were designed to reduce over-reliance on the ‘bottleneck’ between Dover and Calais when new customs checks are introduced next year. 

As part of this, he said ports along the Humber were well-positioned to take some of the strain from their southern counterparts. 

But he urged ministers to press ahead with investment in new border control posts worth £200 million, which are needed to help customs checks proceed more smoothly. 

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