The 拢50 million investment in the Humber鈥檚 container terminals has been flagged by Associated British Ports鈥 chief executive Henrik Pederson as a key example of how it will emerge stronger from the pandemic.
Praising all involved for successfully fulfilling the mission to keep Britain trading - the 2,257 colleagues, its customers and the wider maritime community - the huge spend at Immingham and Hull was a highlight of the Annual Review, with the former the jewel in the 21-port group.
Topping a list of 鈥渂old investments to stay ahead,鈥 as capacity and capability was improvded with a fleet of new cranes the skyline-changing additions, Mr Pederson reflected on a year in which cargo volumes fell by almost 10 per cent.
鈥淥ur mission of Keeping Britain Trading has remained unchanged, and despite the challenges of the last year, I鈥檓 proud to say all our ports have remained open,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e made some bold investments to stay ahead, and we emerge from the Covid period stronger than ever and focused on the key role we have.
鈥淎s the 海角视频 economy gets back on track after a period of tumult and disruption, ports are a critical part of the recovery. So, it鈥檚 crucial that we continue to lead the way: serving the needs of our customers with speed and efficiency, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our people, and supporting greener, more sustainable supply chains.
鈥淎longside our investment in renewable energy generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonising our own operations, ABP is a vital partner in a number of major sustainable energy projects. From renewable and low carbon energy production - such as offshore wind, biomass and hydrogen production, to carbon capture, utilisation and storage - our vast freehold bank and ports are primed and ready to support the drive towards achieving the nation鈥檚 target of net zero emissions by 2050.鈥
Turnover was down 6.4 per cent to 拢542 million, from 2019鈥檚 拢579.4 million, with profits down 23 per cent from 拢123.5 million to 拢95 million.
Cruises and the automotive sector were headline drops, with an increase in biomass handling at Immingham for Drax partly offsetting those.
It had entered the year with a reduction in coal imports for electricity generation and weaker general trading conditions related to Brexit.
Principal cargo indicator, bulks, saw a 9.5 per cent fall in from 2019鈥檚 54.5 million tonnes to 49.3 million tonnes.
On the investment front, Southampton鈥檚 拢55 million Horizon cruise terminal was also flagged, so too the huge solar installation at Hull - the 海角视频鈥檚 largest commercial rooftop array, helping ABP reduce carbon emissions by 35 per cent since 2014.
Progress was also toasted on Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility and the Zero Carbon Humber initiative, with the four successful freeport bids it has also tabled - the Humber, the Solent, Garston and Plymouth - highlighted.
Maritime Minister Robert Courts said, 鈥淭hroughout the pandemic the patience, hard-work and resilience of the maritime sector has been unwavering, demonstrating why the 海角视频 is an international leader.
鈥淭he work set out in ABP鈥檚 annual review embodies this, showing how the sector has adapted to not only face unprecedented challenges head on but harness new opportunities and drive forward innovative technological and environmental change.鈥
