A £730,000 investment will be made in new storage facilities for Rix Shipping Co Ltd at the Port of Hull to help accommodate growing volumes of timber.

The development by Associated British Ports (ABP) follows the signing of a 10-year deal with Rix.

A 3,500m2 shed will be constructed, together with extensive resurfacing of an extra three acres of land at Rix’s terminal at Alexandra Dock. The facility, which will also serve other Rix cargoes including steel, is expected to be fully operational by April 2004.

Captain Ian Fee, Rix director, said the new agreement with ABP would improve the shipping connections between Hull and the Baltic states.

He said: “The volume of timber has been increasing steadily and the mixture of products is changing so we need more undercover storage.”

&#8220The volume of timber has been increasing steadily and the mixture of products is changing so we need more undercover storage”

Captain Ian Fee, Rix director

Doug Morrison, ABP’s port director at Hull & Goole, said: “Our significant financial investment in the construction of additional facilities at the terminal reflects both our confidence in Rix and our commitment to the sustainable development of our port operations.”

Meanwhile, Rix has invested more than £300,000 in a second crane, which will enable the company to move to a double shift early in 2004.

The 180-tonne crane will typically lift 36-tonne 17m timber loads.