The move will create the largest fruit terminal in the UK.
Under the auspices of the partners, Medway Ports which runs Sheerness and is part of the Mersey Docks Group, will take over the day-to-day running operation of the terminal and integrate the £35 million facility Fresh Fruit Terminal Sheerness developed four years ago with Fresh Fruit Services ñ itself a joint operation between Capespan, Fyffes and others set up in 1996 ñ with other produce handling and storage facilities at the port.
The strategy is to ensure greater flexibility in providing tailor-made logistics for all the port's customers. It will also help ensure maximum utilisation of Sheerness facilities throughout the global supply calendar.
"The new enlarged Sheerness Produce Terminal has coolstore capacity to accommodate up to 50,000 pallets of fresh produce from across the globe, in 24 temperature-controlled chambers," said Des Crampton of Mersey Docks. "The port has a total of four berths on a continuous quay of 660meteres handling fresh produce."
Fresh Fruit Terminal Sheerness was previously a stand-alone joint venture between Mersey Docks and Capespan International. It will now complement other fresh produce facilities as part of the port's one-stop-shop able to tailor services and accommodation to best meet the requirements of individual importers and introduce greater cost-efficiency, concluded Crampton.
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