Associated British Ports (ABP) was recognised at the Rail Freight Group Awards for its work at the Port of Newport, where it partnered with Tata Steel and DB Cargo UK to improve safety in its rail terminal.
Ashley Curnow, divisional port manager for Wales and South West at ABP, said: “Safety is ABP’s licence to operate. It sits at the heart of every decision we make, and this project is a powerful example of how innovation can remove risk from our operations.
“In Newport, working alongside Tata Steel and DB Cargo UK, our team has transformed steel handling at the UK’s leading steel port, delivering an industry-leading solution for our customer.”
Previously, steel slabs weighing 20 to 30 tonnes were lifted using chains, requiring workers to manually attach and detach chains in areas with heavy machinery and rail activity.
ABP has since introduced magnetic lifting technology, which allows slabs to be moved without direct human contact, removing chains and manual intervention from the process.
The project also included visual alignment aids on rail wagons to ensure consistent slab placement and reduce rehandling.
Craig Stephen, ABP’s head of operations (Wales), who accepted the award, said: “This award is a great recognition of the work that has gone into changing the way we handle steel slabs at Newport.
“Moving away from chain-based lifting has removed a significant area of manual interaction and reduced the number of people exposed to operational risks.
“It is a practical improvement that has made the operation safer for our colleagues while also improving the way we move steel through the port.”
The improvements have also led to environmental benefits by increasing payloads, reducing the number of trains required, and cutting traction energy use and associated carbon emissions.
The award was presented on Thursday, September 10.
