16 May 2024
Great Yarmouth sets sights on aggregate growth
The construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk has provided a major boost to the port of Great Yarmouth. The deep-water harbour has attracted aggregate suppliers providing raw materials for the building works and is eyeing the potential for more.
Last year the port welcomed its largest-ever vessel discharging 55,000 of material destinated for use across the East coast, including Sizewell C. Now, the continued increase in volume this year is giving confidence that this could be an important ongoing commodity for the port.
The latest ship to visit discharged a further 44,000 tonnes of cargo from the Aggregate Industries’ Glensanda quarry in the Highlands, making the last twelve months one of the busiest in the port’s history. It also helped to deliver a record year for any one single commodity handled through the new Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour, passing the 1,000,000 tonne mark.
As well as Sizewell C, aggregates are going towards upgrades of the road network and development of offshore windfarms.
Richard Goffin of Peel Ports said: “What we’ve proven in the last year is that we can handle the largest class of aggregate vessels, providing another route for companies involved in the thriving south-east construction sector. The work we’ve done with firms for Sizewell C has opened up other conversations with potential customers about supporting their needs.”
Joanne Beales of Aggregate Industries added: “The depth of water at Great Yarmouth is one of the major attractions because there aren’t many places that our largest ships can dock at, especially with the facilities and team that we need to fulfil our customers’ orders. Ours is an industry with very tight margins so we have to work with operators such as Peel Ports that really understand what we need and can deliver on their promises.”