Seaforth EIA

ABPmer carried out work for Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC) on their proposal to construct a new ‘deep-water’ river berth and associated 17ha container terminal close to the mouth of the River Mersey. This proposed development is designed to provide facilities for the berthing and loading/unloading of the latest generation of large ‘Post Panamax’ container vessels. Container cargoes at the Port are currently handled within the enclosed dock system, with access via two river entrances, namely Gladstone and Langton. However, an ever-increasing proportion of international trade is being carried in “post-Panamax” vessels, meaning that such vessels are not able to access the impounded dock system.

ABPmer led the EIA for the project and also had particular responsibilities for assessing the effects of the scheme on the morphology/hydrodynamics of the Mersey Estuary as well as the impacts on ecology, nature conservation, navigation and water/sediment quality. ABPmer were joined on the project by a high-quality team of sub-consultants with specialisms in the fields of planning, traffic, road and air quality, who will be providing necessary inputs in these relevant subject areas.

The scoping process for this work was very detailed as was the assessment process that followed. A formal agreement was reached with English Nature (now Natural England) about the assessment findings and about the mitigation and monitoring work that will be required to accompany this development. This information was then set out in separate reports which clarified these aspects for all parties.

For further details contact:

Colin Scott

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