The Port of Ayr has celebrated the opening of its new, state-of-the-art Bute Terminal which will help support customers in Scotland’s agricultural sector and enhance the wider economic prosperity of the region.
A number of recent ABP investments in infrastructure and port handling equipment have helped secure this new multi-year contract with the leading Scottish trader of grains and animal feed raw materials, Cefetra Ltd, further strengthening its position as the agricultural trade centre for the South West of Scotland. These include the construction of the port’s new £2.2 million Bute agribulk terminal, as well as new state-of-the-art cranes and wide-ranging improvements to shore side infrastructure.
The official opening ceremony saw keynote speeches by Bill Grant, MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Andrew Harston, ABP’s Regional Director for Wales and Short Sea Ports and Andrew Mackay, CEO of Cefetra Ltd. Held in a grand marquee at the port, the event was also attended by Val Russell, CEO of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce as well as a mix of ABP customers.
Following the speeches, guests were able to experience first-hand the new terminal, which offers 4,000sqm of storage space and will enhance the port’s customer offering. Built by 3b construction, a Scottish, family-owned company based in Ayrshire, the terminal is part of a number of enhancements in port facilities, including new purpose-built cranes and wide-ranging improvements to shore side infrastructure.
Andrew Harston, ABP’s Regional Director, Wales and Short Sea Ports, said: “We were delighted to welcome local stakeholders and customers to our port to celebrate the opening of our Bute agribulk terminal, which will enhance storage capacity and improve further the facilities we provide. This development demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting South West Scotland’s farming community and helping facilitate economic growth in the region.”
Andrew Mackay CEO Cefetra Ltd, said: “We are pleased that we are expanding our operations in Scotland by adding the Port of Ayr as a location. This will enable us to offer our customers in the South West of Scotland a local port to source some of their key raw materials.
“We appreciate the effort and commitment that ABP has shown to Scottish Agriculture by agreeing to provide a first-class, purpose-built, facility that meets all the industry standards and that will allow Cefetra to provide the efficient supply of key raw materials to our customers in the South West of Scotland.”
The new Terminal will also result in an increase in the volumes of animal feed and foodstuffs passing through the port, which will in turn help support South West Scotland’s growing agricultural sector. Currently, the port supports a growing number of customers from the Scottish agricultural sector and it plays an important role in supporting the region’s economy.
Stuart Cresswell, ABP’s Port Manager at Ayr and Troon, said: “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Cefetra, which represents one of the most significant developments at the port for many years. The development also helps to cement the growing role that the Port of Ayr has been playing in supporting South West Scotland’s farming community.”
“Our continuous investments in our ports in Scotland mean that we are equipped with the right facilities and skills to provide our customers with the highest standards of service and help grow the region’s economy.”
