Norbord has started transporting logs through the Caledonian Canal in a move designed to reduce lorry movements while improving the company’s carbon footprint.
The panel producer is the first customer of new company the Great Glen Shipping Company, whose canal vessel Kanutta recently completed her maiden voyage with 400 tonnes of roundwood to Inverness.
About 20,000-30,000 tonnes of logs from the west of Scotland currently come up the Great Glen by lorry every year, feeding Norbord’s OSB plant near Inverness. This equates to an estimated 1,000 lorry movements.
“The Glen is a major tourist attraction and the road is very narrow in places,” said Doug Lamont, Norbord’s wood fibre procurement manager. “It’s not ideal for lorries.”
Norbord is trialling the canal transport for six months, bringing 400 tonnes in single consignments each week. This removes more than 70 lorries from the road each month.
“It won’t necessarily save us any money, but it will contribute to our carbon reduction programme and it sends an important message about our commitment to the environment,” added Mr Lamont.
The canal was constructed through the Great Glen in the 19th century for commercial use though it was never exploited for this and has been mainly a route for leisure craft.
