How Peel Ports is Unlocking Efficiency

Part of Peel Ports Group, PortPlus+ offers port-centric solutions that simplify supply chains and boost sustainability

With a network of strategically located ports and terminals across the UK, Peel Ports Group is the country’s second-largest port operator and plays a crucial role in the nation’s supply chain. Each year, Peel Ports handles over 70 million tons of cargo, enabling the import and export of vital goods for a range of sectors like construction, manufacturing, retail, and agriculture.

Within the group, Peel Ports Logistics offers a fully integrated logistics service, and the business also operates BG Freight Line, a short sea shipping line connecting the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe. These efficient routes, well-connected services, and a variety of storage and freight options ensure Peel Ports can add value at every touchpoint in a customer’s differing and unique supply chain demands.

Recognizing the ever-changing landscape and disruption facing supply chains around the globe, earlier in 2025, Peel Ports launched PortPlus+, a port-centric logistics solution offering added-value services at strategic port locations. “Everyone in the supply chain understands the impact of delayed deliveries, rising transport costs, and stretched personnel, and we’ve seen firsthand how these pressures have increased in recent years,” opens David Huck, Chief Operating Officer, Peel Ports Group.

Managing Disruption

Indeed, according to the supply chain risk management firm, Resilinc, global supply chain disruptions jumped by 38 percent in 2024 alone, with labor shortages and geopolitical challenges being the main drivers of this increase. These disruptions have strained businesses; whether its goods delayed on lorries stuck in traffic or shipments rerouted due to severe weather or conflicts, many factors remain outside immediate control.

“We launched PortPlus+ to provide supply chain managers with logistics operations and services to address challenges like fragmentation, efficiency pressures, and sustainability concerns,” David explains. “The platform is designed around four pillars: Store, Process, Move, and Develop, with a view that we could provide tailored solutions to specific challenges.

“Firstly, PortPlus+’ Store is designed to meet our customers’ needs for tailored storage solutions, whether it’s for bulk goods, perishable items, or specialized cargo. We’ve focused on providing flexible options within our facilities to help clients reduce their touchpoints and costs, as well as to keep their goods close to their next destination to enhance efficiency.

“The Process pillar is about adding value and saving time; it’s not just about storing goods but also enhancing them. Many of our customers need services like packaging, labeling, quality control, customs clearance, and even light manufacturing, and by providing these within port environments, we can speed onward distribution, reduce delays at later stages, and ensure goods move through the supply chain with minimal friction. Next, the Move arm leverages our logistics network of rail, road, and maritime services to develop seamless connectivity. Our in-house capabilities include freight forwarding, vessel chartering, and short-sea shipping options to help customers move goods to their next destination as quickly as possible.

“Lastly, Develop is all about focusing on utilizing innovation across our operations and supporting infrastructure investments to further support our customers’ needs,” he continues. “A recent example of this includes a multi-million-pound investment by a leading construction materials provider to build a state-of-the-art import facility at the Port of Liverpool. As one of the largest of its kind in Europe, this facility supports the delivery of low-carbon products across the North of England and Wales, demonstrating how port-centric development can unlock both operational efficiency and sustainability benefits.”

When combined, these four pillars offer much more than a logistics service; they reimagine how businesses can optimize supply chains, creating bespoke solutions that help them adapt to changing market demands. By consolidating storage, processing, and distribution at the group’s locations, PortPlus+ eliminates the complex and often time-consuming steps that can cause supply chains to falter.

“PortPlus+ not only reduces transit between facilities, but it also helps to speed up clearance times and improve inventory visibility through real-time tracking,” David elaborates. “Our customers have found this simplifies their logistics flows and allows them to accelerate the speed at which their goods reach the market. Multi-user warehousing brings flexibility to our customers, enabling freight forwarders and cargo owners to adjust storage requirements on demand, for instance, meaning they avoid long-term commitments and lower overhead charges.

“Our inventory tracking systems enable clients to quickly react to changes in customer demand and maintain a reliable service. Whether it’s geopolitical issues, adverse weather, or other interruptions, customers can adjust their needs as they see fit, and we can assist with unexpected changes by consolidating operations at our ports. With customers asking for improved delivery schedules, we’ve also implemented data management tools and technology to provide real-time tracking and predictive analysis to enable data-driven decision making.”

PortPlus+ is already delivering impressive results for its customers, including reduced road mileage, sustainability gains, and improved efficiency with reduced time and distance between the ship and the end customer. “In the agriculture sector, grains and cereals are being discharged into storage and fed directly into nearby milling or processing facilities, removing the need for any road transport between the ship and the factory,” David says. “For construction and materials customers, we can add value by treating and preparing timber at the port before being delivered to merchants or sites. At our southern ports, perishable goods like bananas are being ripened on site, allowing them to go straight from the vessel and bypass inland facilities to get on the shelves.”

Sustainable Innovation

Beyond its services, Peel Ports is committed to sustainability and is aiming to be a net-zero port operator by 2040. With the logistics sector facing increased pressures and demand for sustainable solutions, the company is also helping its customers to cut emissions. “When designing PortPlus+, we knew environmental impact had to be a key component, and by storing, processing, and distributing goods directly, we’re helping companies minimize road miles,” David reflects. “Stema, a leader in construction materials, for instance, has significantly reduced its emissions by utilizing our terminals to reduce road haulage. We’re collaborating with clients to understand their needs, and we’re investing in greener technologies and practices, such as energy-efficient warehousing and the necessary infrastructure to support alternative fuels.”

As PortPlus+ continues to streamline supply chains with port-centric logistics solutions, it offers plenty of opportunities for both Peel Ports Group itself and its customers’ businesses in 2025 and beyond. “We’re making significant investments to enhance our services, such as a £30-million investment into a new RoRo berth and floating pontoon at the Port of Sheerness, which will be operational later this year to expand our capacity for handling large vessels and diverse goods. Sustainability also remains a core focus as we strive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of the UK’s national target.”

David concludes: “We’re committed to solidifying our position as a leading port operator by continuing to expand and innovate across all areas of the business, strengthening our partnerships with key industries and sectors to offer tailored solutions that meet their evolving needs. Ultimately, we see Peel Ports Group as not only a logistics partner, but as a driving force for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth in the supply chain sector.”