Associated British Ports, together with construction partner R G Carter, held a traditional Topping Out ceremony at its £2.2 million new dry bulk warehouse at the Port of Ipswich.
According to the press release of ABP, the new warehouse is 3,700 square meters and will grow the ports’ already thriving bulk businesses, which handled over 2 million tonnes of dry bulks in 2014.
Equipped with solar panels on the roof, the warehouse, which is due to open in June 2015, will provide low carbon power for the port. It also uses motion sensor activated LED lighting to further reduce the carbon footprint.
Ipswich MP, Ben Gummer, who attended the ceremony, said; “It represents yet another real example of private sector investment in port & transport infrastructure that the Prime Minister was referring to when he visited Suffolk last week.”
Andrew Harston, ABP Director, Short Sea Ports said; “This new warehouse facility which would fill one half of the Ipswich Town ground if erected at Portman Road is fantastic news for both the port and the region, bringing with it investment, jobs and trade.
“It is a great display of what ABP can do; working with our customers to develop facilities that help their business to grow and drive increases in operational efficiency.”
Together with the customers, ABP Ipswich supports 1,812 jobs locally and contributes £122 million to the regional economy.