Forth Ports

Updated on Dec 09, 2023

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Industry Port management Operating income £49.8 million (2010) Headquarters Edinburgh, United Kingdom Type Privately held company		Revenue £181.9 million (2010) Net income £45.1 million (2010) Founded 1967

Key people Christopher Collins, Chairman Charles Hammond, CEO Owner Arcus European Infrastructure Fund Subsidiaries Port Of Dundee Limited

Forth Ports Limited is one of the largest port operators in the United Kingdom. It is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, which is situated on the Firth of Forth. Formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index, the company was acquired by a private equity investment fund managed by Arcus Infrastructure Partners in June 2011.

History

The company was established in 1967 as the Forth Ports Authority. It became responsible for pilotage on the Firth of Forth in 1988. It was privatised and first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1992. In 1995 it acquired the Port of Dundee on the River Tay and the Port of Tilbury on the River Thames. In 2007 it bought the Nordic Group, who manage terminal operations at Chatham. In March 2011, Forth Ports agreed to a £751 million takeover by the Arcus European Infrastructure Fund. The deal was completed in June 2011.

Operations

Forth Ports operates 5 ports on the Firth of Forth and 2 ports elsewhere:

Ports on the Firth of Forth

Grangemouth is Scotland’s largest container port. It is located at the head of the Firth of Forth in the heart of Central Scotland.

Burntisland is located in Fife on the north side of the Firth of Forth.

Methil is also situated in Fife on the northern shores of the Firth of Forth. It has two docks and is able to take vessels up to 3,000 DWT. The Port specialises as a wood pulp and timber distribution centre.

Rosyth is located eight miles (13 km) from Edinburgh and 40 miles (64 km) from Glasgow, on the north shore of the Firth of Forth immediately west of the Forth Road Bridge and the Forth Bridge.

Leith is located on the southern banks of the Firth of Forth and is 2 km north of Edinburgh city centre. The Port of Leith is the largest, enclosed, deep-water port in Scotland and has the capability to handle ships up to 50,000 DWT. The port offers a full stevedoring and cargo handling service.

Other ports

Dundee is the most northerly port owned by Forth Ports and is located on the north side of the Firth of Tay on the East Coast of Scotland. The port provides services in paper pulp and forest products and also a wide range of general and bulk cargoes.

Port of Tilbury, the only English port operated by the Company is located on the river Thames and is part of the Port of London. It is the UK’s leading paper-handling port and also specializes in containers, bulk commodities and building materials.

Property

Forth Ports' property business owns 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land which are available for development and which form the major part of Edinburgh's waterfront.

References

Forth Ports Wikipedia

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