UK's Portico Completes Upgrade of Heavy-Lift Cargo Terminal in Portsmouth

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 4, UK port cargo and logistics operator Portico Shipping officially opened the upgraded area at Albert Johnson Quay in Portsmouth International Port, adding approximately 17,000 square meters of reinforced terminal operating and storage space capable of handling heavy machinery, energy equipment, engineering materials, breakbulk and general cargo, and containers. The upgrade was carried out by demolishing old warehouses, regrading the site, and reinforcing the ground structure, with construction completed while the port maintained its daily cargo handling operations.

The project demolished the original old warehouses, reorganized the site, and built a reinforced concrete operating area to provide space for temporary storage, lifting, and land transport of large equipment. The new area covers approximately 17,000 square meters and can accommodate different types of cargo operations simultaneously, reducing the reliance of large project cargo on traditional warehouse space.

The terminal continues to use its existing Gottwald mobile harbor cranes, with a maximum lifting capacity of 125 tonnes per unit and a maximum lifting capacity of 250 tonnes when two cranes operate in tandem. This capability can be used for handling project cargo such as large transformers, wind power equipment, industrial machinery, and prefabricated engineering components. Tandem lifting requires an operating plan based on the cargo's center of gravity, lifting point positions, crane working radius, and ground bearing conditions, with 250 tonnes being the upper limit of tandem lifting capacity.

The terminal currently has 285 meters of quay length, capable of berthing vessels approximately 236 meters in length, with water depths of 7.3 meters and 8.5 meters depending on the floating fender configuration (referenced to chart datum). The port area is also equipped with four Gottwald mobile harbor cranes, a container yard, and warehousing facilities. The newly reinforced area, together with the existing quay and lifting equipment, forms a heavy project cargo handling system that can support the interface from vessel unloading through temporary storage to land transport.

Portico's terminal connects to the southern England transport network via the M275 and M27 motorways, approximately 90 minutes by road from central London. The new operating area can be used for the handling and temporary storage of cargo including wind turbine components, grid equipment, energy storage systems, power transformers, and large construction machinery, providing port logistics support for related energy and infrastructure projects.

Portico disclosed in February 2026 that the terminal upgrade project represented an investment of approximately GBP 7 million. Portsmouth City Council and Solent Freeport provided additional funding support for port-related expansion, with subsequent public reports mentioning a total support figure of GBP 12 million. Following completion of the upgrade, Portico will utilize the new area and existing heavy-lift equipment to expand its port handling business for energy, industrial, and large infrastructure project cargo.