Port of Garston

53.351°N 2.907°W / 53.351; -2.907

Garston Docks, Liverpool, 1962

The Port of Garston, also known as Garston Docks is an enclosed tidal dock system on the River Mersey at Garston, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from Liverpool City centre Liverpool, England. It is operated by Associated British Ports who are the Harbour Authority. Peel Ports as Competent Harbour Authority for the River Mersey provide Pilotage for any non exempt vessels calling at the Port.

History

Garston Dock was originally set up by the St. Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway Company in June 1853. It contains Old Dock, North Dock and Stalbridge Dock.

By 1936 the 3 docks had 28.5 acres (11.5 ha) of water, 70 miles (110 km) of sidings, 80 acres (32 ha) of storage and dealt with about two million tons of goods a year.[1]

Present day
Stalbridge Dock, January 2020

The present site covers 65 acres. Approximately 350k of imported freight is handled per annum. Cargo is no longer exported from Garston. Fertiliser, cement, stone and agribulks are imported with sea dredged aggregate (sand) being the primary commodity handled. Milling Wheat, steel products, RDF, palletised/bulk chemicals and salt imports along with scrap exports have relocated to other port facilities locally and elsewhere within UK in recent years. Between 2012 & 2017, ABP invested several million pounds in essential investment, replacing lock gates, additional storage facilities and the purchase of new crane capacity.[2] Owing to an ongoing decline in trade at the port the crane purchased was transferred to ABP Newport June 2022. Replacement cranage has been procured though Garston no longer provides inhouse heavy lift capacity for port users. Land ABP deemed non essential to port operations has been sold for a housing development which now borders a large section of the port estate.

References
  1. Railway Magazine December 1936 LMS advert
  2. Houghton, Alistair (2 April 2017). "What is the port of Garston and what does it do?". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
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