Peel Ports Clydeport has begun construction of a new 5000m2 storage shed at King George V dock in Glasgow, which will be able to hold a minimum of 40,000 tonnes of road salt.

It is a joint investment with long-standing customer Irish Salt Mining Company. Also known as Salt Sales Co., the firm is a key supplier of de-icing rock salt to local authorities across West and Central Scotland, as well as highway maintenance contractors.

The facility will be completed next year, and the long-term deal will allow the stockpiling of the product for tough weather ahead.

Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “It’s great to partner with a customer that we already have such a great working relationship with, and our site has the ideal combination of location, space, and facilities to support such an important project.

“This new facility will be supplying council road salt depots across West and Central Scotland and will be key in helping to meet tough demands during harsh winters. Given the unpredictability of Scottish weather, this deal will add vital resilience to the road salt market in this country for many years to come.”

Once fully built, the salt will be shipped from Irish Salt Mining’s mine in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, directly into the Peel Port Clydeport facility at King George V docks.

Peel Ports Clydeport staff will unload the salt from the ships arriving at the port and either load out lorries for delivery to customers or add the salt to the stockpile shed. Thanks to the specialist facilities on site, shipments of 7000 tonnes can be discharged in approximately 12 hours.

Irish Salt Mining produces around 500,000 tonnes of de-icing rock salt per annum from its mine in Carrickfergus.